Women Like Us, Lately

Valerie Rice
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Weekly

Women Like Us: Lately is a podcast about what it actually feels like to be a woman figuring out this season of life.

  1. 5d ago

    Starting Over, Finding Yourself & Learning You Don't Need Permission | With Anissa Renae Kunda

    What happens when the life you've spent decades building starts to change, and suddenly you're left wondering who you are outside of all the roles you've played? This week on Women Like Us: Lately, Val and Monika sit down with Anissa Renae Kunda, an entrepreneur, author, and business mentor who's navigating a whole new chapter after losing her father, experiencing changes in her marriage, and stepping away from a career she spent 35 years building. We're talking about the identity shifts that come with major life changes, the pressure women feel to take care of everyone else, and what happens when we finally start asking ourselves what we want. Anissa shares how her father's passing changed her perspective on happiness, why starting over brought unexpected feelings of imposter syndrome, and how she's learning to recognize the small steps that add up to meaningful progress. We also get into parenting adult children, the joy of becoming a grandparent, finding your people, and the importance of making room for yourself along the way. Plus, we're grading self-care and setting boundaries in our Wellness Trend Report Card. And Anissa's answer to our signature question? You don't have to ask permission. ❤️ We want to know: Are you in a season of change right now? Are you rediscovering yourself or figuring out what comes next? Meet Our Guest: Anissa Renae KundaAnissa is an entrepreneur, author, and business mentor with 35 years of experience in the tourism industry. After building an award-winning adventure tourism business, she's stepping into a new chapter, helping small and medium-sized tourism businesses navigate growth and big decisions. Connect with Anissa: Anissa Renae | Website, Business Mentoring & More Episode Chapters00:28 | Meet Anissa: Finding yourself in a new season of life 02:11 | Navigating loss, career changes, and starting over 03:09 | How losing her father changed her perspective on happiness 04:20 | Finding peace and learning to quiet the mind 06:39 | The difference between how we appear and how we feel 07:39 | The strong woman needs support, too 08:37 | Rediscovering the parts of ourselves we've put aside 09:59 | Recognizing progress and celebrating small steps 11:47 | Looking back at motherhood and the memories we capture 12:58 | Parenting adult children and becoming a grandparent 17:06 | Starting over after 35 years and facing imposter syndrome 18:32 | The unexpected challenges of building something new 20:38 | Learning from life's unexpected adventures 22:18 | Finding the silver lining and surrounding yourself with positivity 24:39 | Wellness Trend Report Card 25:21 | Self-care: Helpful or another thing on our to-do list? 27:35 | Setting boundaries and learning to say no 29:05 | What Anissa wishes she knew 10 years ago 30:54 | What's next for Anissa? Keep the Conversation Going! ❤️Share Your Story: Want to join the conversation or be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about yourself! Get in Touch: Have a question, topic suggestion, or something you want to share? Email us at womenlikeuslately@gmail.com. Follow Along: Come hang out with us on Instagram. Listen & Watch: SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Because women like us don't all look the same. We're simply women trying to feel better and become more ourselves. ❤️

  2. Oct 27

    Episode 13 Bloodwork 101 — What Your Labs Are Actually Telling You

    Bloodwork 101: What Your Labs Are Actually Telling YouEver gotten your bloodwork results back, stared at all those numbers and abbreviations, and thought... what the heck am I looking at? This week on Women Like Us: Lately, Val and Monika are breaking down the basics of bloodwork, from where to start and what to ask your doctor to understanding what those results actually mean. We're talking about common lab tests like CBC, CMP, thyroid panels, cholesterol, blood sugar, and hormone testing. Plus, why timing matters, what those reference ranges mean, and why feeling good involves looking at more than just numbers on a page. We also get into the importance of advocating for yourself, building sustainable habits, and finding a balance between being informed about your health and becoming overwhelmed by all the data. And of course, we're grading some popular health trends in our Wellness Trend Report Card: ordering your own labs, tracking results over time, and the full-body testing craze. We want to know: Do you actually look at your bloodwork results, or do you just wait for your doctor to tell you everything is normal? Resources MentionedMonika's Free Lab Guide: The Labs I Wish Every Woman 35+ Knew to Ask About At-Home Blood Testing: Tasso+ These resources are shared for informational purposes. Blood tests and their results should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. Not everyone needs the same tests, and additional testing isn't always better. Episode Chapters00:28 | Why understanding your bloodwork matters 02:39 | Where to start and how to request labs 03:41 | At-home testing and other options 04:39 | Recognizing symptoms and knowing what to ask for 06:38 | Preparing for bloodwork: Fasting, coffee, and cycle timing 07:56 | Understanding your results and reference ranges 09:07 | Common lab tests: CBC, CMP, cholesterol, and blood sugar 10:35 | Thyroid, iron, and hormone testing 12:11 | What if your results are normal but you still don't feel right? 14:31 | Lifestyle habits, foundational health, and follow-up testing 18:40 | Turning health information into practical changes 22:52 | Monika's lab guide and resources 23:51 | Wellness Trend Report Card 24:14 | Ordering your own labs 24:41 | Tracking your results over time 26:21 | The full-body testing craze 28:01 | Taking a more active role in your health Keep the Conversation Going! ❤️Share Your Story: Want to join the conversation or be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about yourself! Get in Touch: Have a question, topic suggestion, or something you want to share? Email us at womenlikeuslately@gmail.com. Follow Along: Come hang out with us on Instagram. Listen & Watch: SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Because women like us don't all look the same. We're simply women trying to feel better and become more ourselves. ❤️

  3. Oct 25

    Episode 12 Gift Registries, Birthday Parties & The Etiquette Nobody Agrees On

    Are birthday gift registries actually helpful, or are we making gift-giving way more complicated than it needs to be? This week on Women Like Us: Lately, Val and Monika are discovering just how differently two people can approach birthdays, gifts, and celebrations. Monika comes from a world where showing up to a birthday party without a gift is practically unheard of. Val? She's just happy everyone showed up! And apparently, the differences between Miami and North Carolina go a little deeper than we expected. We're talking kids' birthday registries, adult wish lists, gift-giving expectations, and whether celebrations have gotten a little out of hand. Plus, what happens when the meaning behind a gift matters more than the gift itself? And of course, we're grading birthday registries for kids, adult gift registries, and no-gift parties in our Wellness Trend Report Card. We want to know: Are birthday registries helpful or tacky? And do you expect people to bring gifts to an adult birthday party? Episode Chapters00:28 | Birthday registries: Helpful or tacky? 01:08 | Kids' birthday registries and avoiding unwanted gifts 03:26 | Sharing gift lists with family and friends 05:55 | Do adults actually expect birthday gifts? 07:07 | Miami vs. North Carolina: Different gift-giving expectations 10:18 | The unwritten rules of birthday gifts 17:47 | Buying clothes and other unexpected presents 18:30 | Have birthday celebrations gotten too elaborate? 20:36 | Social media, Pinterest, and party planning pressure 22:55 | Wellness Trend Report Card 23:08 | Grading kids' birthday registries 24:02 | Adult birthday registries: Practical or tacky? 25:20 | No-gift birthday parties 26:25 | Celebrating connections instead of spending money Keep the Conversation Going! ❤️Share Your Story: Want to join the conversation or be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about yourself! Get in Touch: Have a question, topic suggestion, or something you want to share? Email us at womenlikeuslately@gmail.com. Follow Along: Come hang out with us on Instagram. Listen & Watch: SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Because women like us don't all look the same. We're simply women trying to feel better and become more ourselves. ❤️

  4. Oct 24

    Episode 11 Botox, Gray Hair & How We Really Feel About Aging

    Botox, Gray Hair & How We Really Feel About AgingWe all say we want to age gracefully, but what does that actually mean? Because it's entirely possible to love getting older and still struggle with some of the physical changes that come with it. This week, Val and Monika are talking Botox, gray hair, wrinkles, body confidence, and our complicated relationship with aging. Val shares why she stopped coloring her hair after years of covering her grays, while Monika explains why she's not quite ready to embrace hers. We get into the beauty industry's influence on how we see ourselves, the different expectations placed on aging women and men, and why getting older might actually be something to look forward to. Plus, we're grading preventative Botox, the gray hair movement, and the growing obsession with longevity and anti-aging. We want to know: Are you embracing your gray hair, getting Botox, doing a little of both, or figuring it out as you go? Episode Chapters00:28 | Aging gracefully: What does that even mean? 03:08 | Feeling more comfortable with ourselves than we did 10 years ago 04:53 | If you could stay one physical age forever, what would it be? 07:05 | Let's talk Botox 11:17 | Gray hair and the decision to stop coloring it 17:04 | Body insecurities we're learning to let go of 19:35 | Why are aging men and women treated differently? 21:50 | The beauty industry and the pressure to look younger 23:20 | Aging, attractiveness, and society's expectations 26:46 | Finding purpose and wisdom in later stages of life 28:05 | Wellness Trend Report Card: Botox, gray hair, and longevity 30:31 | Embracing aging on our own terms Keep the Conversation Going! ❤️Share Your Story: Want to join the conversation or be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about yourself! Get in Touch: Have a question, topic suggestion, or something you want to share? Email us at womenlikeuslately@gmail.com. Follow Along: Come hang out with us on Instagram. Listen & Watch: SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Because women like us don't all look the same. We're simply women trying to feel better and become more ourselves. ❤️

  5. Oct 23

    Copy of Episode 10: Hormone Replacement Therapy: What Women Should Know About HRT

    Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has come a long way, but depending on who you ask, it's either life-changing or something to be afraid of. So what's the deal? In this episode, we're continuing our conversation about perimenopause and taking a closer look at HRT, the benefits, the misconceptions, and why so many women still feel unsure about it. Monika shares why she's such a strong believer in women having access to hormone therapy and breaks down the roles of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Val shares her personal experience with HRT, including the challenges of advocating for herself when her doctors initially suggested a different approach. We also talk about what HRT can and can't do, why treatment isn't one-size-fits-all, and how hormones, lifestyle, and the natural process of aging all play a role in how we feel. Plus, our Wellness Trend Report Card is back! We're grading testosterone for women and the growing trend of marketing HRT as an anti-aging solution. One thing we can agree on? Women deserve options, good information, and the ability to make informed decisions about their own health. Getting older doesn't mean we have to stop feeling like ourselves. We want to know: Have you tried HRT, considered it, or felt hesitant because of something you've heard? ❤️ Episode Chapters00:00 | Why We're Talking About HRT 01:07 | Why Hormone Therapy Has Such a Mixed Reputation 02:12 | Estrogen, Progesterone & Testosterone Explained 04:01 | Hormone Changes During Perimenopause & Menopause 04:54 | Different Forms of Hormone Therapy 05:35 | Val's Experience with Estrogen & HRT 07:27 | Where Does the Fear Around HRT Come From? 09:06 | Advocating for Yourself & Exploring Treatment Options 10:19 | What HRT Can and Can't Do 12:17 | Why Hormone Therapy Isn't One-Size-Fits-All 13:51 | Lifestyle, Nutrition & Hormone Support 15:21 | Wellness Trend Report Card: Testosterone & Anti-Aging 17:46 | Getting Older Without Fearing It 18:38 | Knowing Your Options & Starting the Conversation Keep the Conversation Going! ❤️Have a story, experience, or perspective you'd love to share? We'd love to hear from you! 🎙️ Be a Guest: Share Your Story 💌 Get in Touch: womenlikeuslately@gmail.com 📱 Follow Along: Instagram 🎧 Listen & Watch: SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Women Like Us: Lately Real conversations about being a woman, lately. Hosted by Val & Monika. This episode shares personal experiences and perspectives for general education and conversation. Hormone therapy decisions should be made with a qualified healthcare professional based on individual health needs and risks.

  6. Oct 22

    Episode 9: Everyone's Talking About Cortisol. Here's What We Actually Think.

    Cortisol face, cortisol belly, cortisol cocktails… apparently everything we're doing these days is messing with our stress hormones. As if we needed one more thing to stress about. 😂 In this episode, we're talking about the cortisol craze and whether all this wellness advice is actually helping women or just giving us another list of things we're supposedly doing wrong. We get into what cortisol actually does, the difference between healthy stress and chronic stress, and what happens when life feels like one big juggling act. Val shares what it's like navigating a season where even the things she's intentionally choosing are leaving her completely maxed out. We also talk about the importance of sleep, recovery, realistic routines, and why managing stress doesn't necessarily mean eliminating everything that challenges us. Plus, our Wellness Trend Report Card is back! We're grading cortisol cocktails, coffee on an empty stomach, and replacing HIIT workouts with walking. And let's just say we don't agree on everything. One thing we're realizing? Taking care of ourselves doesn't have to be so complicated. Maybe we don't need another wellness rule. Maybe we just need to get better at recognizing what actually works for us. We want to know: What's one wellness rule you've decided you're done following? ❤️ Episode Chapters00:00 | Why Is Everyone Talking About Cortisol? 01:19 | Cortisol Isn't the Enemy 03:32 | Are We Stressing About Being Stressed? 05:13 | Sleep, Recovery & Bedtime Routines 09:52 | When Life Doesn't Allow for Consistency 12:30 | Managing Stress When Everything Feels Important 14:36 | Recognizing the Effects of Stress 16:24 | Cortisol Myths: Coffee, HIIT & Cortisol Cocktails 19:31 | What Actually Helps Us Manage Stress? 22:52 | Wellness Trend Report Card 27:45 | Less Pressure, More Understanding Keep the Conversation Going! ❤️Have a story, experience, or perspective you'd love to share? We'd love to hear from you! 🎙️ Be a Guest: Share Your Story 💌 Get in Touch: womenlikeuslately@gmail.com 📱 Follow Along: Instagram 🎧 Listen & Watch: SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Women Like Us: Lately Real conversations about being a woman, lately. Hosted by Val & Monika.

  7. Oct 21

    Episode 8: Love, Marriage & Divorce | What Relationships Teach Us About Ourselves

    Is love something we feel, or something we do? And how much of ourselves are we willing to change just to feel loved? In this episode, we're talking about relationships and how our understanding of love changes as we get older. Monika shares the story of meeting her husband at 15, how their relationship has grown over the last 23 years, and what becoming parents has taught them about marriage. Val brings a different perspective, reflecting on divorce, the relationships that have shaped her, and how she's learning to understand love beyond simply being wanted or chosen. We get into the expectations we grew up with, the pressure to make relationships last forever, and why the end of a relationship doesn't mean the love or experiences weren't meaningful. We also talk about something that can be difficult to recognize while we're in it: losing parts of ourselves to keep someone else happy. How do we know when we're growing with another person versus changing ourselves to be accepted? And of course, our Wellness Trend Report Card is back! We're grading some familiar relationship advice, including never going to bed angry, whether relationships should be 50/50, date nights, and whether your partner should be your best friend. We're coming from two very different experiences, and we don't always agree. But maybe that's what makes these conversations worth having. We want to know: What's one thing you believed about love or relationships when you were younger that you see differently now? ❤️ Episode Chapters00:00 | Let's Talk Relationships 01:04 | Is Love a Feeling or an Action? 03:36 | Monika's Love Story: 23 Years Together 08:12 | How Motherhood Changes Marriage 14:07 | What Divorce Taught Val About Love 18:35 | Losing Yourself in Relationships 24:59 | Wellness Trend Report Card 31:22 | Final Thoughts on Love and Relationships Mentioned in This EpisodeVal shares how the work of bell hooks has influenced the way she thinks about love, connection, and relationships. All About Love by bell hooksCommunion: The Female Search for Love by bell hooks Keep the Conversation Going! ❤️Have a story, experience, or perspective you'd love to share? We'd love to hear from you! 🎙️ Be a Guest: Share Your Story 💌 Get in Touch: womenlikeuslately@gmail.com 📱 Follow Along: Instagram 🎧 Listen & Watch: SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Women Like Us: Lately Real conversations about being a woman, lately. Hosted by Val & Monika.

  8. Oct 20

    Episode 7: Adult Friendships: Making Friends, Drifting Apart & Finding Your People

    Making friends as an adult might actually be easier than we thought. Finding time to see them? That's another story. 😂 In this episode, we're talking about adult friendships and how much they change as we get older. From making new friends and finding the confidence to put ourselves out there, to navigating friendships that don't always feel equally reciprocated. We get into the disappointment of always being the one reaching out, learning when to give a friendship some space, and realizing that not every relationship has to last forever to have been meaningful. We also talk about what makes a good friend, why different friendships can fulfill different parts of our lives, and how some of the best connections are the ones where you can go months (or years!) without seeing each other and pick right back up. Plus, our Wellness Trend Report Card is back! We're grading friendship apps, friendship breakups, and low-maintenance friendships. One thing we're realizing? Friendships don't have to look the way they did 10 years ago to be just as important today. We want to know: Has making friends gotten easier or harder for you as you've gotten older? ❤️ Episode Chapters00:00 | Let's Talk Adult Friendships 01:20 | Is Making Friends Easier as We Get Older? 04:57 | When Friendships Feel One-Sided 11:51 | Drifting Apart and Letting Friendships Change 14:07 | What Makes a Good Friendship? 18:00 | Wellness Trend Report Card 20:36 | Making Room for Friendships as Life Changes Keep the Conversation Going! ❤️Have a story, experience, or perspective you'd love to share? We'd love to hear from you! 🎙️ Be a Guest: Share Your Story 💌 Get in Touch: womenlikeuslately@gmail.com 📱 Follow Along: Instagram 🎧 Listen & Watch: SpotifyApple PodcastsYouTube Women Like Us: Lately Real conversations about being a woman, lately. Hosted by Val & Monika.

See All (22)

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Women Like Us: Lately is a podcast about what it actually feels like to be a woman figuring out this season of life.

Information

  • Creator
    Valerie Rice
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Valerie Rice
  • Show Website
    Women Like Us, Lately