Smart Women Talk Radio

Feeling stuck in a successful career? You’re not alone—and you’re not broken.  This episode features Arivee Vargas, former Big Law litigator turned executive coach and author of Your Time to Rise. Arivee shares her powerful story of career reinvention and the mindset shifts that helped her—and now help others—escape the career trap.  You’ll learn how to spot the red flags of misalignment, how cultural expectations and perfectionism keep high-achievers stuck, and how to take the first bold steps toward work that actually feels like success.  Whether you’re ready to pivot or just starting to question the path you’re on, this conversation will give you the clarity and courage to change course—with purpose.  Join Arivee and Katana as they discuss:  Breaking free from feeling stuck.Redefining success on your own terms.Practical strategies for career realignment.Arivee Vargas is an award-winning executive coach, author, and CEO of Humble Rising LLC. She helps high-achieving women, especially leaders and lawyers, br

What if the root of your chronic symptoms isn't in your head—but in your immune system? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Tom O’Bryan joins Smart Women Talk host Katana Abbott to break down the truth about autoimmune diseases and what you really need to know to take control of your health. Together, they explore:The 5 pillars behind the development of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseasesWhat autoimmune disease actually is—and why awareness is your first defenseHow genetic and environmental triggers contribute to disease—and what you can do about itDr. Tom O’Bryan is a world-renowned expert on gluten and its connection to autoimmune conditions. With four decades of clinical and research experience, he’s a trusted voice on the complications of Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity, Celiac Disease, and the growing epidemic of autoimmune conditions affecting millions worldwide.  Learn more about Dr. Tom at thedr.com.Medical Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not int

What if the key to energy, strength, and independence in your second half isn’t more exercise—but the right kind? In this powerful episode, Debra Atkinson joins Smart Women Talk host Katana Abbott to bust myths about fitness after 50 and reveal how to master your metabolism at any stage of life. You’ll learn:The #1 exercise priority that determines long-term independence. How to know if your fitness routine is actually working—or wasting your time. Why most women are measuring success the wrong way (and what to do instead).Debra Atkinson has helped over 250,000 women “flip” their second half with hormone-smart fitness. She’s the bestselling author of You Still Got It, Girl and Hot, Not Bothered, and the host of Flipping 50 TV and the Flipping 50 Podcast—an AARP top podcast with over 2.5 million downloads. Debra’s TEDx talk, "Everything Women in Menopause Learned About Exercise May Be a Lie," has inspired women worldwide to rethink their approach to fitness and aging. Debra also created the first and only horm

Join Joanna and Katana as they discuss:How to find hidden stories in your life.Why it's never too late to reinvent yourself.How authenticity and self-trust are your superpowers.Joanna Klein, founder of Journey to Legacy, is a renowned speaker, writer, and transformational coach who became an entrepreneur at age 65. Drawing on her Master's in Social Work and decades of experience creating personal development programs, she guides people to uncover the hidden wisdom in their life experiences, using these insights both to shape their future and create meaningful legacies.Joanna's innovative approach to life story work has been featured in AARP and Medium, and she has presented at the RootsTech Family Search Conference for three consecutive years. Through her signature online courses and workshops in legacy development, she's helped hundreds of individuals discover the power of their personal narratives and reconnect with their authentic selves.At 71, Joanna continues to inspire others by demonstrating that it's

Join Shannon and Katana as they discuss:How to embrace change as an opportunity.How to recognize transferable skills for your next act.How to design a roadmap from here to there.Shannon Russell is a Television Producer turned Entrepreneur and Career Transition/Business Coach. She is also an Exit Strategy Expert, YouMap® Coach, Author, Speaker, and Host of the Second Act Success Career Podcast and the How To Quit Your Job and Start A Business Podcast. Shannon supports women who are unhappy with their 9-5 jobs as they pivot towards a "second act," building a business and being their own boss. She provides exit strategy guidance and helps her clients transition from employees to entrepreneurs.Shannon began her career by spending over 16 years as a television producer in New York City and Los Angeles, working for MTV, E!, Yahoo!, Pop Sugar, A&E, TLC, VH1, etc. She then pivoted to open her own business, running a Snapology franchise that teaches children STEM education so that she could be more present for her

Take Charge of Your Finances with Eva Moulton, CFP®Join Eva and Katana as they discuss:The first steps to building a healthy financial foundation for taking control of your money.The best resources and strategies to help you manage and grow your finances.The one simple step you can take today to make a lasting impact on your financial future.Eva started her career with Ameriprise as a financial advisor over 25 years ago and now runs a practice focused on empowering and guiding clients to financial stability and fulfillment by offering comprehensive solutions, through expertise and unwavering integrity. As a mom of three girls, and a daughter to a woman who was widowed at 57, she is an ardent advocate of women in finance and was the president of the Ameriprise Women's Empowerment network which sought to not only educate and engage women in finance both personally and professionally but also to empower them to strive for financial equality.To learn more about Eva, visit www.ameripriseadvisors.com.#SmartWomenTal

The Biggest Money Mistakes Women Make with Katana Abbott, CFP® and Colleen KilpatrickJoin Colleen and Katana as they discuss:Why many women often avoid dealing with finances and how to find the courage to take action.How your money personality can sabotage your ability to create wealth.Some simple tips you can take to immediately change your relationship with money.Katana Abbott, CFP®, is a Midlife Millionaires® Coach and Certified Social Security Claiming Specialist, and the host of Smart Women Talk. For over 35 years, Katana has helped Baby Boomers plan for retirement, including how to create lifetime income, how to optimize their Social Security benefits, launch an encore career, and prepare for long-term care. She has written several books, created a financial literacy course, and is a popular speaker. Katana has been honored by NAWBO as one of Detroit’s Top 10 Businesswomen, receiving the Breakthrough Award. To download her new retirement guide, Three Smart Strategies to Maximize Your Retirement Income,

Mastering the Art of Letting Go with Colleen Kilpatrick  Join Colleen and Katana as they discuss:  Simple and effective techniques you can put into practice today to identify what's been been draining your energy.The steps you can take to eliminate tolerations.How to identify long-lost dreams and hidden passions you'll now explore with your energy and enthusiasm.  Colleen Kilpatrick is a Speaker, Course Creator, and Author of Eliminate What You Tolerate, a concise but mighty book that has earned a 5-star rating on Amazon for helping readers identify and release what no longer serves them and make room for what lights them up. Trained in the healing arts at her Mother’s side, Colleen is also a Wellbeing Mentor, helping women discover the transformative powers of ancient and modern wisdom, remedies, and self-care practices to revitalize body, mind, and spirit naturally.To get your free Eliminate What You Tolerate Worksheet, email Colleen at colleenkilpatrick@icloud.com.  

Making Space for What Really Matters with Tracy McCubbinJoin Tracy and Katana as they discuss:How five minutes of decluttering daily can make a tremendous difference in your life.Why making space for what really matters is essential to creating a happy home.Cracking the myth that your home has to be perfect. It doesn't!Tracy McCubbin is the CEO and founder of dClutterfly, one of America’s top decluttering companies. In the last two decades, she has helped thousands of clients clear the clutter in their lives to create space for positive life changes. Tracy is also the author of Making Space, Clutter Free and her latest book Make Space for Happiness. Tracy looks at the root of our clutter to find the real cause and ways to find real solutions.Learn more about Tracy at dclutterfly.com and on Instagram and YouTube.Get Tracy's FREE Gift:Grab three of Tracy McCubbin's top checklists to help you kickstart your organization journey. Below are the checklists you will receiveShould It Stay or Should it Go - Tracy's li

Purposeful Planning Makes for Joy-Filled Holidays with Ella HerlihyJoin Ella and Katana as they discuss:What questions to ask to determine your to-do and not-to-do lists.How to set boundaries that will guard what matters most.How to love your family well with gifts that reflect their unique love language.Ella is a mom to five thriving young adults and wife of 28 years to Steve. Over the last twenty-five years, she has accumulated a wealth of parent training from experts and in-the-trenches experience. Her passion is to equip parents and grandparents to overcome the entitlement pandemic and empower their kids to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and become more responsible, grateful, and resourceful. She is writing a book encouraging parents to raise “UnEntitled” adults. To learn more about Ella, visit www.unentitled.co.

Join Joy and Katana as they discuss:How taking on the role of caregiver offers new perspectives when planning for the future.The significance of longevity and your health's role as you age.Strategies for initiating the eldercare conversation.Joy Loverde has a reputation for being a path carver and visionary. She is a keynote speaker, consultant, and author of the best-seller The Complete Eldercare Planner, 4th edition and Who Will Take Care of Me When I'm Old? Joy has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, TIME, Money, New York Times, and Psychology Today among many others. Interviews include The Today Show, Good Morning America, and NPR. Critics hail her work as "illuminiating, eye-opening, and required reading for everyone over 40." Learn more about Joy at elderindustry.com.

Join Becky and Katana as they discuss:Understanding the costs associated with aging in place or moving.How to better evaluate the different living options available to aging parents.Strategies for improving outcomes for people as they age.A proud native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Becky grew up knowing the value of helping others from her parents. Becky received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis in marketing from Georgia State University in Atlanta. In addition, she is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA), and a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer® (CADDCT).  Becky began her career in the field of geriatrics over 25 years ago. She developed and implemented a program for older adults seeking to house people and assist them so they could remain in their homes as independently as possible. In 2013, she joine

How I Kept Them: My Cryoablation Story with Laura Ross-Paul   Join Laura and Katana as they discuss:  The importance of being your own health care advocate.How I went from clinical trial to No Evidence of Disease.Why it's important to share your experiences to help educate others. Laura Ross-Paul is an accomplished artist, activist, and educator known for her impactful contributions to the visual arts and breast cancer advocacy. She has received prestigious awards such as the Bonnie Bronson Visual Arts Fellowship and the Oregon Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship. Her work has been featured in regional biennials at the Portland and Tacoma Art Museums and in film and literature.  With a BFA from Fort Wright College and an MFA from Portland State University, Ross-Paul has taught painting and drawing at institutions like Lewis & Clark College and the Pacific Northwest College of Art. She has also served on numerous arts boards and co-founded the Northwest Artists Workshop.  In addition to her artist

Cryoablation in the Treatment of Breast Cancer with Dennis Holmes, MD, FACS  Join Dr. Holmes and Katana as they discuss:What is cryoablation?How cryoablation can be used to treat breast cancer.Who is eligible to receive cryoablation. Dennis R. Holmes, M.D. is an internationally renowned breast cancer, surgeon, surgeon educator, and cancer researcher specializing in the management of breast cancer. Dr. Holmes is medical director of the Sam and Grace Carvajal Comprehensive Breast Center at Adventist Health Glendale in Los Angeles, CA. He is also Co-Founder and CEO of XpediteMD, Inc., a digital health technology company working to improve the efficiency, quality, and value of cancer care. Dr. Holmes is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has also served as department head of several academic breast cancer programs and program director of two breast surgery fellowship programs. His has also played a pivotal role in several breast cancer treatment innovations, including intraoperative

Understanding Medicare with Danielle RobertsJoin Danielle and Katana in this encore show as they discuss:How to understand the Medicare maze.The tools for becoming confident in your health care choices.The roadmap to understanding Medicare.Danielle Kunkle Roberts is a founding partner at Boomer Benefits, a national insurance agency specializing in Medicare since 2005. She is the author of the best-selling book 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make and is a frequent source for major news outlets such as CNBC, FOX, Yahoo Finance, Kiplinger, and MarketWatch.Danielle has appeared on more than 200 podcasts, radio shows, and TV segments to educate the public about Medicare. Danielle serves on the NAHU Medicare Advisory Group where she advocates for Medicare beneficiaries at a national level to government organizations including CMS.To learn more about Danielle, visit boomerbenfits.com.

Join Colleen and Katana as they discuss:  Why it's important to understand how planning for retirement has changed.Unique challenges women face in retirement planning.Ways to optimize your Social Security strategy for more income with less taxes.  Katana Abbott, CFP®, is a Midlife Millionaires® Coach and Certified Social Security Claiming Specialist, founder of the Midlife Millionaire® Solution, and the host of Smart Women Talk. For over 35 years, Katana has helped baby boomers plan for retirement, including how to create lifetime income, how to optimize their Social Security benefits, launch an encore career and prepare for long-term care. She has written several books, created a financial literacy course, and is a popular speaker. Katana has been honored by NAWBO as one of Detroit’s Top 10 Businesswomen, receiving the Breakthrough Award.  To download Katana's new retirement guide, Three Smart Strategies to Maximize Your Retirement Income, visit katanaabbott.com.  Colleen Kilpatrick is a multi-talented busin

How to Dig Yourself Out of Debt and Repair Your Credit Score with Howard Dvorkin, CPAJoin Howard and Katana as they discuss:Simple steps to take charge of your credit card debt now.Smart tips to improve your credit score.When filing bankruptcy may be your best option.Howard S. Dvorkin, CPA, MBA, is one of the most highly regarded debt and credit experts in the United States. His success in the financial industry has allowed him to be interviewed by countless media outlets over the years, including The New York Times, Fortune, Entrepreneur, The American Banker, and Investor’s Business Daily. He has also appeared as a finance expert on programs, including CBS Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight, The Early Show, Fox News, and CNN.Howard has played an instrumental role in drafting both state and federal legislation, served as a former consultant to the Board of Directors for the Association of Credit Counseling Professionals, and was president of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies

Is Owning a Home the Right Choice for You in This Market? with Marla PenningtonJoin Marla and Katana as they discuss:Renting vs. Buying in today's house market.Government and local programs to help first-time home buyers with down payments.Ways to pay off your home more quickly.Marla Pennington worked in the corporate environment for about 20 years before she became an entrepreneur. In June 2007, she got her real estate license (right when the market began to tank). Her resolve was to remain positive, affiliate with a successful company, and grow a solid business. Her efforts paid off in a terrible real estate downturn. She is a past Director of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors and a lifetime member of the local Multi-Million Dollar Club. She is now the Director of Training for her company. She is also a member of the Coldwell Banker national Star Trainer network. Marla lives in Memphis with her blind rescue dog, Clark. She is currently in what she calls her 3rd Act and walks 4 miles daily, and she en

Millionaire Success Secrets with Mike GruleyJoin Mike and Katana as they discuss:Why your current success may not leave you as happy as you expected.Habits you can develop to create more peace and time freedom.And simple action steps you implement immediately to truly shine.Mike is a 35+ year entrepreneur who has successfully built businesses from start-up to national scale. Mike is a Certified EOS Implementer™ who works exclusively with privately-owned businesses whose owners and leaders are successful and growth-oriented but frustrated. Frustrated that their success has created complexity and chaos that is slowing or stalling their growth, limiting their profits, and generally making life less fun.Having used EOS® in his own companies, Mike now assists teams with implementing a simple, proven, organizing framework that enables them to get team clarity and alignment and go from chaos to control – to running their business again, instead of it running them.To learn more about Mike, visit eosworldwide.com/mike

The Power of Mindset in Creating Wealth with Joumana KayrouzJoin Joumana and Katana as they discuss: How to stay strong during adversity.Finding the courage to take a "Leap of Faith."The importance of knowing what you stand for - Your Why.Joumana Kayrouz was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and emigrated to the United States in 1986 at the age of 22 with only $1000. She attended the prestigious Yale University, where she obtained a Master’s degree in Ethics, with a concentration in Medical Ethics. She later moved to Michigan to study law at Wayne State University School of Law and graduated in 1997 with a Juris Doctorate in law.Today, Joumana Kayrouz is the founder and owner of the Michigan Center for Personal Injury and the Law Offices of Joumana Kayrouz PLLC and has been recognized as one of the largest personal injury law firms and the largest woman-owned law firm in Michigan.Dubbed “Queen Of The Legal Ads,” Kayrouz’s face has appeared on the covers of over 750 buses, 250 billboards, and television. In 2014, Kayro