Please welcome the amazing Colleen and Bridgett as they join Melissa and Susie this week!

Colleen and Bridgett break the silence and turn up the volume on menopause and midlife experiences with their fantastic podcast, Hot Flashes and Cool Topics! Join our fabulous hosts and special guests as they dive deep into the ups and downs of menopause and the story behind their friendship and business. We've got expert opinions and celebrity guests galore, creating a well-rounded discussion that's both educational and entertaining. From sleep disruptions to hormone therapy options, we fearlessly tackle every topic in between, leaving no midlife stone unturned!

Colleen and Bridgett believe in the power of finding a community where women can openly share their experiences, and we're thrilled by the growing interest surrounding these knitty gritty topics. After all, knowledge is power! Trust us, they have done their research – seeking info from reputable sources like physicians certified by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

In this episode:

• Hear about the amazing upcoming events from Hot Flashes and Cool Topics featuring Dr. Somi Jave, the expert in comprehensive menopause care, ready to enlighten women about this crucial phase of life. Joining the panel this year is Melissa Gilbert herself so you don’t want to miss out
• It's time to challenge those outdated stereotypes of "traditional grannies" and "nanas." We celebrate the power of embracing multifaceted identities beyond society's expectations. Menopause and aging are chapters of life to be proud of – brimming with vitality and wisdom!
• We embrace our journeys with confidence, fight against societal pressure, and join our community of support and connection.

Listen to the end to hear an important announcement from Melissa and Susie!

Meet Our Guests
Bridgett Biagi Garratt and Colleen Rosenblum are two friends on a mission! Colleen is a former attorney turned pilates instructor, mother of 2 girls, and married to her high school sweetheart. Bridgett is a former elementary school teacher, mom of a son and daughter, and also married to her high school sweetheart. As friends (and neighbors!) they started Hot Flashes and Cool Topics because they were in search of a voice for midlife women. 

Connect With our Guests
On their website:​​ hotflashescooltopics.com
On Instagram: @hotflashesandcooltopics
On Facebook: facebook.com/hotflashescooltopics
On Their YouTube Channel

Listen to their podcast, Hot Flashes and Cool Topics 

Connect With Our Hosts
Melissa Gilbert on Instagram @melissagilbertofficial
Susie Shubert on Instagram @susie_shubert

This podcast is sponsored by Modern Prairie. Visit us at modernprairie.com or Instagram @officialmodernprairie

Download the new Modern Prairie App on National Prairie Day! Head to your App Store and search for “Modern Prairie” to join the conversation or click here.

Learn about upcoming events at Modern Prairie

Who said age should slow us down?

In this episode, we shatter the myth that women lose interest in sex as they age and flip the script on what it means to embrace pleasure. Turns out, some women have never experienced the joy of mind-blowing passion which leads them to perhaps be less interested. We also expose the historical neglect of women's sexual health and throw a spotlight on the slow progress in celebrating women in their prime. 

We’re not too old to do many things, especially when taking control of our financial destinies. Join Vicki as she shares some shocking facts about women who age into poverty and why it is important to learn about money now. 

We're not only opening up the conversation about sexual health and finances. We also dive into the importance of friendships and the support that comes with strong female bonds. Who run the world? You guessed it—women who love and uplift each other!

And as if that wasn't enough, we've got the lowdown on menopause—those hot flashes and wild mood swings. Let's be real, ladies, it's time we demanded better healthcare support during this rollercoaster ride. We're shattering taboos and leaving no topic untouched!

We wrap up this outrageously empowering episode with a celebration of aging fabulously. The tides are turning, and we're here for it! Confidence, beauty, and vitality have no age limit. Say goodbye to society's narrow expectations and hello to a world where women in their sixties are rocking it like never before.

So, grab a glass of wine, sit back, and join us on this wild, no-holds-barred journey of pleasure, power, and embracing life on our own terms. It's time to rewrite the rules, my friends!

_________

Meet Our Guest Vicki Larson 

Vicki Larson is a longtime award-winning journalist at a San Francisco Bay Area newspaper, author of "Not Too Old for That: How Women are Changing the Story of Aging," named a Best Book of 2022 by Take the Lead, co-author of "The New I Do: Reshaping Marriage for Skeptics, Realists and Rebels," named a Best Book of 2014 by PopSugar, and the forthcoming book "LATitude: How to Make a Live Apart Together Relationship Work" (July 2024). A resident of Marin County, California, her writing can be found in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Newsweek, AARP's The Ethel and Medium among other publications.

Connect With Our Guest Vicki Larson

On the web: http://omgchronicles.vickilarson.com https://omgchronicles.medium.com/
On Instagram @omgchronicles
On Facebook @vickilarsonjournalist
On Twitter: @omgchronicles
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickilarson/

Connect With Our Hosts
Melissa Gilbert on Instagram @melissagilbertofficial
Susie Shubert on Instagram @susie_shubert

This podcast is sponsored by Modern Prairie. Visit us at modernprairie.com or Instagram @officialmodernprairie

Download the new Modern Prairie App on National Prairie Day! Head to your App Store and search for “Modern Prairie” to join the conversation or click here.

Learn about upcoming events at Modern Prairie

This bonus week in June brings us a replay of our top episode so far from 2023!

Did you know you have to break in a new bra the way you break in new shoes? Melissa and Susie learned so much from this fantastic interview with Lori Kaplan, the Fairy Bra Mother herself!

Undergarments are the foundation upon which we build our wardrobes, and Lori Kaplan, affectionately known as The Fairy Bra Mother, has been supplying costume and wardrobe basics to the heavenly bodies on stage and screen for 4 decades. Savvy shoppers know that BraTenders is the go-to place for solutions for all manner of clothing conundrums, and The Uplifting Experience, their signature bra fitting, is sought by women around the world who are in need of a lift, and proper fitting bra.

Lori is also a writer, and working on her “mammoir”, called My Life Behind Bras, which will give readers a beneath-behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the entertainment industry. Many of the stars in the community are also private clients at BraTenders. 

Lori is a Cat Mom to Jack and Ms Kitty. Lori enjoys yoga, pilates, crossword puzzles, and the NY Times Spelling Bee. Lori is a lifelong New Yorker, who moved to Manhattan at the age of 22 so she could walk to Studio 54. She now resides is Riverdale, NY.

In this episode:

• Learn more about the Fairy Bra-Mother herself like her adventures in NYC in the late 70s (she was a huge fan of Studio 54!) 
• Lori's best tips for wearing the RIGHT bra, and how to find the Goldilocks of bras
• Listen to Melissa and Susie ask all your most asked questions about hiding the perfect bra 

You don't want to miss this one! 

____________

Connect With Our Guest Lori Kaplan 

On her website: bratenders.com
On Instagram @fairy_bra_mother
On Facebook @bratenders

Connect With Our Hosts
Melissa Gilbert on Instagram @melissagilbertofficial
Susie Shubert on Instagram @susie_shubert

This podcast is sponsored by Modern Prairie. Visit us at modernprairie.com or Instagram @officialmodernprairie

Download the new Modern Prairie App on National Prairie Day! Head to your App Store and search for “Modern Prairie” to join the conversation or click here.

Learn about upcoming events at Modern Prairie