Half Betty

In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, Andrea and Krista welcome their first UK guest to the Half Betty Podcast - writer, wellbeing curator, coach, and podcast host Claire Fitzsimmons.

Claire is the co-founder of If Lost, Start Here, a wellbeing company supporting people as they navigate life’s wilds with greater emotional honesty, clarity, and self-compassion. She is also the host of the podcast A Thought I Kept, where she explores the ideas, moments, and conversations that stay with us long after they happen.

This episode marks more than simply Half Betty’s first conv...

What happens when the career you’ve built no longer fits the life you want? This week, Andrea and Krista sit down with Dr. Kelly Kasteel—emergency physician, Mum, and founder of Emerge Wellness.

After 17 years in emergency medicine, Kelly found herself facing burnout, questioning her identity, and navigating the very real challenges of perimenopause. She shares how the pressures of COVID, coupled with a traumatic workplace incident, became the catalyst for stepping away and reimagining her future.

What started as an interest in aesthetics quickly revealed something much bigger: women in midlife (incl...

Some people find that their entire lives are about learning how to read a room. Christina Pitts Jazzar built a career learning how to care for the people inside of it.

Long before she became an intimacy coordinator (IC) at 45 years old, Christina had spent years working as a performer, actor, and choreographer, instinctively attuned to the emotional energy, vulnerability and unspoken dynamics on both the stage and the screen. So when a friend suggested she explore the emerging field of Intimacy Coordination, something in her immediately and wholeheartedly responded. As Christina shares in this conversation...

We sat down with Danielle Mika Nagel for a conversation that moved dynamically between both reflection and clarity. A conversation that stayed with us long after it was over and, now, finds its opportunity to be shared with our listeners.

At the heart of this episode is a phrase Danielle often returns to - “effort and ease”. The idea that everything meaningful in life asks something of us, but not everything should feel like strain. And that learning the difference is often how she describes beginning to understand herself more fully.

Danielle speaks to the...

Last year, in a packed room at the Hello Sunshine Conference, Krista and I listened to Dr. Rachel Goldman speak.

Afterward, we had a brief chance to meet her and share what we were building with Half Betty - a space for women navigating midlife, or what we often call centre life, and all that comes with it. She listened with a nod and what felt like immediate understanding - a kind of quiet recognition in the exchange. She spoke briefly about the work she was immersed in, including her upcoming book, and said she would...

What began as an April Fools’ idea has become something much more meaningful.

Half George returns as a space for men to move into honest, open conversations about midlife alongside the stories we’ve been hearing from our guests on Half Betty.

Co-hosts Chris Rathborne and Kyle Gruen are joined by their first guest, Steve Pratt - writer, entrepreneur, and self-described “weird, kind, creative, enthusiast, experimenter.”

At 50, Steve found himself in a strange and profound shift -  leaving the company he built, becoming an empty nester, and questioning long-held definitions of success a...

For this episode of Half Betty, Andrea and Krista are joined with Anar Ali an award-winning author, TV creator, and Executive Producer of CBC/NBC Universal’s Allegiance (now on the tail end of Season 3), as she traces her path from Tanzania through small-town Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Toronto. Anar talks through guiding values like freedom over security, kindness as power, collaboration, compassion, and a curiosity that fuels wonder.

She reflects on power amplifying character, “sharing it” through politics, incremental community change, and circular storytelling that honours ancestors. As well, the very raw and real moment she le...

Andrea and Krista welcome not one, but two fantastic new guests to Half Betty -  the duo behind the brilliant and fun The Devil Wears SPF podcast, Carolyn Hawes and Diane Brennan. In this episode, we hear from both women about the experiences that have shaped them, the lessons that landed them here, and their visions for full, vibrant, sun-protected futures.

Carolyn and Diane explore themes of self-worth, agency, and the power of women, creating space for honesty and care. They share stories of resilience, transformation, and the courage it takes to live life on their o...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Suzanne (Zanne) Hollingshead joins Andrea and Krista for an honest and moving conversation about loss, resilience, and finding purpose through life’s hardest seasons. Zanne shares her experience of losing her mother as a child and her sister in midlife, and how navigating these profound losses became a catalyst for transformation.

She talks about how her journey through grief led her to create supportive communities for motherless children, adults navigating loss, and women moving through perimenopause and menopause. Zanne’s story highlights the power of facing grie...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Julie Kim, a top Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and producer, joins Andrea and Krista for an engaging and honest conversation. Julie shares her journey in comedy, motherhood, cultural identity, and the unique challenges women face in the entertainment industry. She talks about her evolving comedic style, fueled by real-life experiences (including the highly annoying ones) and how it helps her connect with diverse audiences. The discussion highlights her impactful storytelling, growth as a comedian, and dedication to breaking barriers in comedy. Julie also shares upcoming plans, including live shows and her...

Welcome to Season Two of the Half Betty Podcast with Founder, Host and Producer Andrea Rathborne as well as Producer and Co-Host Krista Gruen. We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a board-certified OB-GYN, reproductive endocrinologist, and fertility specialist based in New York. In this episode, Dr. Lucky shares her story from her education at McGill University and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland to her practice at RMA of New York. She touches on her personal IVF journey, the vulnerabilities and challenges of motherhood, and how it influenced her professional path. The conversation highlights the importance of...

Andrea and Krista welcome Karryn Ransom on this episode of Half Betty. Karryn was a cast member of Degrassi Jr. High and speaks about her time on the series and how it shaped her future as a teacher. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of parenting, professional journeys, and the transition to 'empty nesters.' They emphasize the importance of modeling a full life for their children, exploring new passions, and accepting the different changes that come with midlife, including menopause. Karryn shares her dynamic teaching journey, methods to engage students, and the joy of returning to...

Andrea Rathborne and Krista Gruen join in conversation with Jocelyn Pepe, whose extraordinary journey - from moving through divorce and single motherhood to surviving a life-altering brain injury and ultimately becoming a global keynote speaker and bestselling author - reveals the power of grit, healing, and claiming your own mind. As a dedicated mother of three children, author of her first book, Claim Your Brain, and committed mental health advocate, Jocelyn emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness, community support, and shifting the narrative from “me” to “we”. 

Our conversation explores Jocelyn’s pivotal life moment...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Founder and Host Andrea Rathborne and Producer/ Co-host Krista Gruen connect across time zones - from Vancouver to Bali -  with Desiree Dupuis, founder and vision-keeper of Voes & Co, a vegan fashion and design brand rooted in sustainability and soul.

Desiree opens up about the wild, beautiful path of entrepreneurship - from leaving Vancouver to building a life and business in Bali, and what it means to find belonging far from home. She shares her honest reflections on growth, partnership, and the power of knowing when to invite o...

In this episode of Half Betty, Andrea Rathborne and Krista Gruen strike up a conversation with filmmakers Kate Green and Amber Orchard as they share the story behind their upcoming feature documentary Menopause: Coming In Hot! The film is set to have its World Premiere at the Whistler Film Festival this December, 2025. Directed by and starring Kate Green, the film captures her real-time journey through perimenopause with honesty, humour, and heart.

Coinciding with World Menopause Day (October 18), Kate and Amber open up about the making of this empowering, insightful, and deeply relatable film that amplifies women’s...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Founder, Host, and Producer Andrea Rathborne and Producer and Co-Host Krista Gruen sit down with sisters Jess and Moonie Desvarieux. Once navigating careers in journalism and law, Jess and Moonie have pivoted to include comedy, screenwriting, and directing, letting their authentic voices shine. They discuss their award-winning web series Moonie, their feature script Butch Baby Mama, and their vision to honour their late mother, Jessie, by supporting education and healthcare projects in Haiti.

The sisters share their journey through grief, revealing how humour became both survival and healing...

This week, Andrea and Krista sit down with Mary Lynn Cloghesy -  mother, author, entrepreneur, and creative force. Her midlife years brought with them profound change: the end of a marriage, a concussion, the dissolution of a company, and the unexpected challenge of starting over in school.

Instead of breaking her, these experiences became catalysts for transformation. Mary Lynn learned to listen to her intuition, care for herself deeply, and choose courage, joy, and new beginnings again and again.

Her journey weaves through storytelling, healthy living, and community-building, and led her to create the Leadership L...

This episode features a heartfelt conversation with Kristina Spring, who shares her deeply personal journey through illness, uncertainty, and transformation during midlife. Hosted by Andrea Rathborne and Co-Hosted/ Produced by Krista Gruen.

Kristina recounts her experience with a complex medical journey that began in France with a tick bite in 2012, leading to Lyme disease and, years later, a series of neurological symptoms and ambiguous diagnoses, including a presumed brain tumor. She describes the emotional toll of living with uncertainty, the impact on her family, and the isolation that came from trying to make others understand her experience.<...

Some people play it safe. Costume designer Patti Henderson has built her life on anything but.

In this episode of Half Betty, we sit down with the celebrated film and television costume designer whose work has been featured at Cannes, Sundance, and Tribeca Film Festivals, and on productions for Amblin Entertainment, Amazon Studios, and Universal Pictures. Patti’s credits include Under the Bridge, Flag Day, Totally Killer, and Nobody -  but her most captivating stories happen off-screen. Along the way, she has found inspiration and connection with remarkable women, including her neighbour on Vancouver Island, Pamela Anderson, who...

In this dynamic and inspiring episode, we meet Terry Tateossian, an Armenian/American entrepreneur based in New Jersey. Terry is the founder of THOR - The House of Rose - a wellness community for women over 40, and host of the podcast How Good Can It Get? 

In this episode Terry opens up about her deeply personal transformation, from co-founding and leading a successful marketing agency to facing a life-altering health crisis that led her down the path of holistic healing. A pivotal three-hour consultation with a holistic doctor became the turning point in her journey, inspiring her t...

Andrea and Krista are honoured to welcome Nadia George to the podcast—an award-winning actor, activist, and trauma integration clinician based in Toronto. 

The conversation is a heartfelt continuation of Nadia George's transformative journey, as she shares her recent experiences after traveling to El Salvador. Andrea and Krista welcome Nadia back for part two, where she recalls pivotal moments that have reshaped her midlife perspective, including the significant spiritual and personal growth she gained from the trip. Nadia describes how instrumental this journey was for her in feeling more grounded, confident, and connected to her roo...

Andrea and Krista are honoured to welcome Nadia George to the podcast—an award-winning actor, activist, and trauma integration clinician based in Toronto. Nadia shares her rich cultural background, rooted in her Canadian upbringing and her newly realized Salvadorian Nahua heritage. She also expresses her tireless advocacy for clean drinking water, mental health, and environmental justice.

The conversation spans her wide-ranging career across social services, corporate consulting, and the entertainment industry. Nadia opens up about her personal journey of self-discovery, including the life-changing revelation of her biological father and the healing that followed. She reflects on th...

During this episode Andrea and Krista are in conversation with Ragini Kapil, a Vancouver-based writer, director, performer, and educator. Inspired by her mother, a trailblazing Indo-Fijian educator in special education, Ragini's work is imbued with humor, empathy, and honesty. 

After a career in education, Ragini transitioned to the creative world but faced a challenging recovery from a back fracture and concussion. Despite these setbacks, she emerged stronger, writing and directing award-winning films, performing standup comedy, and teaching English to newcomers in Canada. Ragini's story underscores themes of resilience, compassion, authenticity, and visionary thinking. She shares her transformative j...

Andrea and Krista dive into Madeleine’s inspiring work in social entrepreneurship, her feminist values, and the energy she brings as an instigator and creative force. Madeleine reflects on her formative years, including her rebellious nature as a child, which influenced her life’s work. 

She shares her journey of finding purpose through initiatives like G Day - a series of events aimed at empowering girls entering adolescence. 

The conversation highlights her transition into midlife, marked by her decision to quit alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing profound personal growth and a return to more a...

In this episode, Founder and Host Andrea Rathborne and Producer/Co-Host Krista Gruen sit down with Andréa (Drea) Bendewald to discuss Drea's journey as the Founder, Host, and Executive Producer of 'Circle This,' an Anti-Small Talk podcast. 

Drea shares her extensive experience leading circle conversations, spanning over 30 years, and explores her passion for meaningful connection, relationships, human insight, and inspiring moments. The episode details Drea and Andrea’s serendipitous meeting at the 2024 Shine Away Event (Hello Sunshine’s annual gathering in LA), which they describe as 'Sacred Synchronicity.' They recount their bonding experience through common...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, hosted by Andrea Rathborne and Co-hosted/Produced by Krista Gruen we feature the inspiring story of Chloë Angus. Chloë is a Vancouver-based fashion designer who transitioned from designing inclusive fashion to developing wearable robotic exoskeletons after a spinal cord injury. Chloë shares her experiences growing up in a remote community, establishing a successful fashion career, and advocating for technological advancements to improve mobility for disabled people. The conversation highlights her resilience, advocacy for inclusive design, and the importance of community support in overcoming personal and professional challenges. Chloë also discusses her invo...

Andrea and Krista are joined by love coach, TED speaker and now Author, Francesca Hogi! Inspired by their attendance at Reese Witherspoon's Shine Away event, their Half Betty conversation explores midlife transformations, love, and personal development and growth. Francesca (aka Franny - an approved nickname) introduces her ‘Self Love’ Formula, which includes self-compassion, self-worth, self-validation, self-care, and self-gratitude. She emphasizes the power of human connection, shared stories, and the importance of operating from a place of love rather than fear. This episode also touches on navigating friendships and romantic relationships in midlife, and Francesca's personal journey, which includes movi...

While we originally planned to launch “Half George” as an April Fools’ gag to replace “Half Betty,” we realized that the stories of men, their mid-lives, and mental health are deeply significant and deserving of genuine support. Instead of sharing “Half George” on April 1st, we decided to release this special stand-alone episode today, April 2nd.

This episode is dedicated to all the men who have unexpectedly connected with “Half Betty,” related to its themes, and reached out with questions. We hope this provides a space for bold vulnerability and connection—a place where men can share their midlife journe...

Meet Emma May, a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur known for her resilience and ambitious endeavors. Emma shares her journey from law to real estate, and then to founding her own clothing line Sophie Grace, aimed at providing comfortable yet stylish workwear for women. She recounts her transformative experiences, including leading a community effort to mitigate flood damage in Calgary, raising significant capital for her business, and navigating the challenges of ADHD. Emma emphasizes the importance of supportive communities, overcoming fear, and seizing opportunities as she moves into the next phase of her life. The episode concludes with Emma's plans for future adventures...

In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, we sit down with the incredible Rhonda Roberts Smid - a powerhouse in theater, film, TV, fitness, and education. Rhonda gets real about midlife, sharing how she flipped the script from seeing it as a decline, to embracing it as a celebration. We dive into her experiences as a performer, coach, and mentor, and her passion for helping women own their midlife with confidence.

She opens up about resilience, breaking free from societal expectations and why personalized care—both physical and mental—is key. Plus, her dedication to diversity and...

In this episode, our guest Christa Hull shares stories from her midlife journey and career transformation. She shares what it was like working with some of Vancouver’s top lifestyle brands, while also struggling with hormone changes, sleep issues, mood swings, and the grief of losing her mother suddenly. Christa talks about the moment she decided to step away from the fast-paced corporate world, choosing instead to slow down, prioritize self-care, and embrace practices including meditation, therapy, and mindful living.

She also dives into her transition into entrepreneurship—building a coaching and consulting business centered on leadership and...

Podcast founder Andrea Rathborne and the iconic Betty White share the same birth date - January 17th. In 2022, as Betty would have celebrated her 100th birthday, Andrea turned 50 - half betty’s age. This milestone sparked a powerful reflection: Betty White achieved more between 50 and 100 than in her first 50 years, suggesting that midlife is not an end but a bold, new beginning. Inspired by Betty’s legacy, Andrea saw turning 50 as the gateway to a second, even greater life chapter - one full of possibility, reimagination, and purpose.

This vision gave rise to Half Betty, a bold and...