In this solo episode of The Bets Life Podcast, I’m discussing something that I’ve been personally struggling with for a long time: the indecision surrounding starting a family. What if you’re not sure if you want kids? What if you’ve never felt certain about being a mom? What if you feel like your fertility window is quickly shrinking? What if you’ve been waiting for that “aha” moment, but it hasn’t arrived?

This episode is all about being in the “messy middle” and being “on the fence.” Not fully in, not fully out. Just…trying to figure it out.

I share what it’s been like to be asked, “When are you having kids?” constantly, the fear of choosing the wrong path, and why more and more women are finding themselves in limbo over the motherhood decision.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or even a little guilty for not having a clear answer, then this episode is for you.

In this episode, I talk about:

• What it actually feels like to be a “fence sitter” about having kids
• The pressure I feel in my 30s to become a mom or make a decision either way
• Misconceptions about women who don’t have children
• The reality that both paths can be fulfilling and also challenging
• The fact that grief may come with any life path not taken

Resources:

https://www.elle.com/life-love/a63309605/motherhood-decision-essay-2025/

https://therumpus.net/2011/04/21/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-71-the-ghost-ship-that-didnt-carry-us/

https://www.vox.com/first-person/22370250/should-i-have-kids-a-baby-decide-start-family-parenthood-kids-childfree

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/us/politics/us-birthrate-decline-women.html

https://www.facebook.com/leanincommunity/posts/an-average-of-1-in-4-women-leave-the-workforce-during-their-first-year-of-mother/1157854729708854/

Baby Decision book: https://amzn.to/4s6Fyy8

Rent the Runway has created the shared closet of your dreams. Pick from 10,000+ premium styles. Sign up now at renttherunway.com and use code RTRXBOBREIN50 at checkout to save.

At Ritual, they know that better health begins with better ingredients. Use code THEBETSLIFE on https://ritual.com to save 20% on your first month.

Connect with Betsy:

Visit my website: https://thebetslife.com/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetslife/

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review and share: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-bets-life/id1644549737

On this episode of The Bets Life Podcast, I’m joined by CEO and founder of ACP Management, Alice Hampton. From running global communications strategies for major beauty brands to walking away to start her own business, Alice opens up about the burnout, IVF struggles, and life pivots that led her (fortuitously) to founding a thriving talent management company. With a powerful roster including Kat Stickler, Madison Humphrey, and Anine Bing, Alice supports “her girls” with a dash of loving “momager” energy.

We dive into the reality behind managing top creators, why mental health always comes first, and how Alice has built a business rooted in trust, boundaries, and long-term vision. This conversation is honest, empowering, and a reminder that sometimes when you stop trying to control the journey, life is able to unfold exactly as it should.

In this episode:

• Alice’s global career in beauty and what burnout really looked like
• Infertility, pregnancy loss, and navigating deep personal heartbreak
• Amicable divorce and staying friends with your ex-husband
• Building a boutique agency centered on relationships instead of transactions
• Understanding the importance of taking a step back and taking breaks
• The truth behind influencer careers and constant online pressure
• Why “overnight success” is a myth and what actually builds longevity
• Setting boundaries, protecting your energy, and choosing peace
• How gratitude, perspective, and philanthropy shape her life

Connect with Alice:

Website: https://acp-management.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicehampton/

Rent the Runway has created the shared closet of your dreams. Pick from 10,000+ premium styles. Sign up now at renttherunway.com and use code RTRXBOBREIN50 at checkout to save.

At Ritual, they know that better health begins with better ingredients. Use code THEBETSLIFE on https://ritual.com to save 20% on your first month.

Connect with Betsy:

Visit my website: https://thebetslife.com/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetslife/

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review and share: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-bets-life/id1644549737

How do you pursue joy, transform your life, and build something truly meaningful without a master plan?

On today’s episode of The Bets Life Podcast, I speak with Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, co-founder of Godmothers bookstore in Summerland, CA. Prior to opening an independent bookstore, Jennifer was the former head of WME’s literary division and has worked with icons like Oprah, Sheryl Sandberg, and Arianna Huffington. Jennifer shares how a completely unplanned career led her into publishing and how a cross-country move opened the door to her most joyful chapter yet.

We chat about the magic of gathering, the importance of multi-generational friendships, and the philosophy behind Godmothers—a space built on connection and storytelling. Jennifer also opens up about her “sacred pause,” what it means to live from the heart, and why protecting your peace is the ultimate success metric.

In this episode, we cover:

• Jennifer’s unexpected journey into publishing (and the internship that turned into a career)
• The concept of “godmothers” and the people who shape our lives
• Why taking accountability was the turning point in her early life
• What she learned from working alongside Oprah
• The inspiration behind Godmothers bookstore and building community through books
• The power of gathering and why in-person connection matters more than ever
• Multi-generational friendships and how we can learn from those around us
• Daily practices for cultivating happiness, peace, and alignment
• Paying attention to what’s a “full-body yes” and what’s a “f&%$ no”

You can celebrate the special women in your life and attend Godmothers Day at the bookstore on May 3rd from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Connect with Jennifer:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferrwalsh/

Website: https://godmothers.com/

Rent the Runway has created the shared closet of your dreams. Pick from 10,000+ premium styles. Sign up now at renttherunway.com and use code RTRXBOBREIN50 at checkout to save.

At Ritual, they know that better health begins with better ingredients. Use code THEBETSLIFE on https://ritual.com to save 20% on your first month.

Connect with Betsy:

Visit my website: https://thebetslife.com/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetslife/

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review and share: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-bets-life/id1644549737

How do you turn a passion into a business, a movement, and a mission?

On this episode of The Bets Life Podcast, I’m joined by Pilates instructor, long-time studio owner, and nonprofit founder, Victoria Popoff Ardis. Victoria shares how a chance career in fitness altered the rest of her life (for good), the twists and turns of owning her own Pilates studio, and her passion for building community and helping others through movement.

Victoria and I discuss the transformation of her organization, Pilates Brunch Club, into a nonprofit that supports domestic violence survivors. We also speak about women’s health, perimenopause, and our shared love of cats (certified cat ladies for life). This conversation covers entrepreneurship, hosting with intention, major life transitions, and trusting your gut and timing through every stage of reinvention.

Bollandbranch.com and use code thebetslife for 25% off your order over $30

Tryarmra.com use code thebetslife10 to save 10%

Connect with Victoria:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriapopoff?igsh=MTY3cnA2aXdib2lyZw%3D%3D

Pilates Brunch Club: https://www.instagram.com/pilatesbrunchclub/

Connect with Betsy:

Visit my website: https://thebetslife.com/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetslife/

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review and share: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-bets-life/id1644549737

In this episode of The Bets Life Podcast, I sit down with Natasha Caleel, founder of Sage Society Fitness and Wellness, two women-focused fitness studios in Santa Barbara and Ventura, California. We discuss what women’s bodies actually need as they move through pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and beyond. Natasha and I unpack outdated views about strength training, why strength training goes so far beyond the aesthetic, and why building a safe fitness environment for women 30+ is so important.

This conversation is for women who want to feel strong, capable, and confident as they age and move through different seasons of life. Get ready to ditch gym intimidation, unrealistic “bounce back” pressures, and fitness programs that have ignored women’s needs for far too long.

Connect with Natasha:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitmamasb/

Sage Society: https://www.instagram.com/sage_society/

Rent the Runway has created the shared closet of your dreams. Pick from 10,000+ premium styles. Sign up now at renttherunway.com and use code RTRXBOBREIN50 at checkout to save.

At Ritual, they know that better health begins with better ingredients. Use code THEBETSLIFE on https://ritual.com/ to save 20% on your first Month

Connect with Betsy:

Visit my website: https://thebetslife.com/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetslife/

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review and share: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-bets-life/id1644549737

What if the secret to creating more art, building a better business, and living a more aligned life was simply being even more of yourself?

In this episode of The Bets Life Podcast, I’m joined by luxury floral artist Mackenzie Nancarrow, founder of Mackenzie Nancarrow Designs, for a conversation that goes far beyond flowers. We discuss how everyone can grow their creativity, what it really means to be an artist, and why staying true to yourself is the fastest way to achieve confidence, momentum, and an authentic career.

Mackenzie shares how flowers became her medium, how California’s landscape shapes her work, and why she chooses transparency over competition (she even readily shares her floral arrangement recipes online). We also dive into motherhood, creative blocks, pricing realities, and the mindset shifts that helped her grow a thriving floral business in under two years.

Bollandbranch.com and use code thebetslife for 25% off your order over $30

Tryarmra.com use code thebetslife10 to save 10%

Connect with Mackenzie:

Website: https://www.mackenzienancarrow.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackenzienancarrowdesigns/

Connect with Betsy:

Visit my website: https://thebetslife.com/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetslife/

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review and share: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-bets-life/id1644549737

Have you ever wondered why you may feel more connected to yourself and others when you are immersed in nature? As technology advances and screen time increases, have you ever felt more disconnected from the environment? In this episode, I chat with Dr. Lena Dicken, licensed clinical psychologist and creator of The Outdoor Psychologist, to unpack how nature and our environment shape mental health.

We dive into ecopsychology, nature-deficit disorder, and how we can better balance indoor vs. outdoor time. Dr. Lena shares both the science and the personal stories that led her to this career: growing up in a meditation-centered spiritual community, taking a spontaneous four-year travel “intermission,” and founding Saltwater Sessions, a therapeutic surfing program.

Connect with Lena:

Website: https://www.outdoorpsychologist.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoutdoorpsychologist/

Substack: https://substack.com/@theoutdoorpsychologist

Rent the Runway has created the shared closet of your dreams. Pick from 10,000+ premium styles. Sign up now at renttherunway.com and use code RTRXBOBREIN50 at checkout to save.

At Ritual, they know that better health begins with better ingredients. Use code THEBETSLIFE on https://ritual.com/ to save 20% on your first Month

Connect with Betsy:

Visit my website: The Bets Life

Follow me on Instagram: @thebetslife

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review, and share The Bets Life Podcast

What if your birth chart held the road map to your purpose, career, finances, and love life? Could understanding your astrology help you make more aligned and appropriate decisions? In today’s episode, we dive into natal charts and how your specific time and place of birth can lay a blueprint for the rest of your life.

Astrologer and alignment guide, Laura Donahue, joins The Bets Life Podcast for a conversation about using astrology, human design, and tarot as tools for self-awareness and direction. Laura, a.k.a. Lady LaDonna or LaDonna, breaks down how your birth chart can help you understand your strengths and patterns and lead to much-needed clarity and self-discovery.

Connect with Laura:
Website: https://www.ladyladonna.com/
The Aligned Work Week E-Book: https://www.ladyladonna.com/store/p/the-aligned-work-week-e-book
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyladonna_/
Book an alignment session: https://www.ladyladonna.com/appointments

Bollandbranch.com and use code thebetslife for 25% off your order over $30
Tryarmra.com use code thebetslife10 to save 10%

Connect with Betsy:

Visit my website: The Bets Life

Follow me on Instagram: @thebetslife

Love the podcast? Subscribe, rate, review, and share The Bets Life Podcast