Living on the Virg Podcast

Episode 100. I honestly can’t believe I’m saying that.When I started this podcast almost a year ago, I didn’t have a big plan — I just watched a lot of reality TV, had a lot of opinions, and thought it would be fun to talk about it somewhere. And for a while, that’s exactly what it was: Bravo, trips, events, saying yes to everything, and chasing the next thing to cover.But somewhere along the way, without one big dramatic moment, the show quietly changed… because I changed.In this milestone episode, I’m looking back on the first 100 episodes — the moments I forgot until I saw the titles again, the trips and friendships that mattered more than the “content,” and the realization that I didn’t want life to feel like homework anymore. I still love Bravo and pop culture, but I wanted this space to feel like real life again — like sitting at the kitchen counter with coffee, paying attention to the fun parts, the messy parts, and what they’re trying to teach me.This isn’t a big announcement or a pivot. It’s just me taking a minute to say: this is where we started, this is what changed, this is where I am right now… and I’m really excited to find out what the next hundred episodes look like.Thank you for being here. Truly.#LivingOnTheVirg #Episode100 #PodcastMilestone #MidlifePodcast #LifestylePodcast #RealLifePodcast #PersonalEssayPodcast #WomenPodcasters #Reflection #SlowingDown #Clarity #Decluttering #Alignment #Friendship #Temecula

Today I’m talking about what it really looks like to be kind to a body that’s changing — and why I’m finally learning to be on my own side. From wine hitting differently, to food affecting mood and energy, to realizing rest days aren’t “weak”… they’re how you keep living your life without burning out. I share why “Me Monday” has become a game-changer, how I’m redefining health as energy (not aesthetics), and why gentle structure beats punishment every time. Plus, This Week on the Virg (chile relleno casserole + the Bloody Maria I can’t stop thinking about) and a very honest Winos on the Virg review of Cougar Winery on the De Portola Trail — the vibe, the service, what I tasted, and whether I’d join the club.#LivingOnTheVirg #LearningToBeOnMyOwnSide #GentleStructure #SupportOverPunishment #RestDay #MeMonday #HealthJourney #NervousSystem #SelfKindness #MindBody #TemeculaWine #WinosOnTheVirg #CougarWinery #DePortolaWineTrail #LifestylePodcast

Ever feel behind… even when you’re doing everything? In this episode, I unpack the “mental noise” that keeps us stuck in self-criticism disguised as productivity — endless lists, constant optimization, and the feeling that rest is unearned. We talk about why a calmer life doesn’t mean an empty life, how to “contain the noise” with gentler structure, and why a real bedtime routine can be a form of self-respect. Plus: Winos on the Virg at Europa Village + Bolero (including a showstopper dinner), and how The Traitors and 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way are basically metaphors for living in your head instead of your actual life.#LivingOnTheVirg #MentalNoise #FeelingBehind #Overthinking #SelfTalk #GentleStructure #RestIsProductive #NervousSystem #MindsetShift #RealLife #TemeculaWine #WinosOnTheVirg #EuropaVillage #Bolero #TheTraitors #90DayFiance

In today’s episode, I’m talking about why I’m choosing less for my health — and I don’t just mean less commitments or less chaos. I mean less in my body: less plastic, less artificial dye, less fragrance, less seed oils, and fewer ultra-processed ingredients that make my body work harder than it needs to.Here’s the tricky part: once you start learning what’s in everything, it can get overwhelming fast. I’ve felt that paralysis — the “I can’t eat there, I can’t use that, I can’t do anything” spiral — and that’s not what I’m after. I’m not trying to live in a bubble. I’m trying to live with more clarity.I share the small switches that actually helped me (and Ben), why I’m focused on curiosity-based wellness instead of fear-based wellness, and how “one swap at a time” is the only way this stays sustainable. Because what surprised me most wasn’t deprivation — it was relief.Living on the Virg is about paying attention to real life — the fun parts, the messy parts, and what they’re trying to teach me.#LivingOnTheVirg #CleanLiving #LowToxLiving #SeedOilFree #IngredientAwareness #FragranceFree #NonToxicHome #WellnessJourney #Inflammation #HealthyHabits #MicroSwaps #ProgressNotPerfection

Lately, I’ve stopped asking myself what I want more of — and started asking a different question: What do I want to protect?In this episode, I talk about protection not as fear, but as discernment. About learning that not everything deserves access to your time, your energy, or your heart. About how openness without boundaries leads to depletion, and how protecting yourself can actually be the most caring thing you do.We talk about:Why “no” is a complete sentenceThe difference between guarding and honoringProtecting your time without guiltProtecting your energy (especially emotional energy)Letting go of relationships that quietly drain youAnd why fewer, truer connections often feel better than a crowded lifeProtection isn’t isolation. It’s intention. And choosing what gets your care might be the most powerful form of self-respect there is.#LivingOnTheVirg #ProtectionWithIntention #Boundaries #SelfRespect #PersonalGrowth #EmotionalHealth #IntentionalLiving #MidlifeReset #RealTalkPodcast #WomenWhoReflect

Episode 94 is a deep, honest look at friendship—not just with friends, but inside our most important relationships: our parents, our children, our siblings, and our spouse. Over time, the idea of a “ride-or-die” starts to look different, and sometimes the hardest truth is that a friendship can feel like a loss even when nothing “went wrong.”In this episode, I talk about who shows up, who checks in, and who celebrates you without comparison—plus the three fundamentals that shape every relationship: proximity, timing, and energy. We’ll also talk about nurturing the friendships that matter through consistency, small gestures, and grace, and knowing when it’s time to let a friendship go without villainizing anyone.If you’ve been noticing shifts in your relationships lately, this conversation is for you.#LivingontheVIrgpodcat #LivingontheVirg #friendship #adultfriendship #relationships #boundaries #emotionalhealth #selfgrowth #marriage #familyrelationships #lettinggo #personaldevelopment #lifelessons #podcast

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a few real-life observations that have been sticking with me lately — around expectations, assumptions, and the quiet pressure we carry without realizing it.We talk about the expectations we absorb from society, how unspoken assumptions shape our experiences, and why frustration often comes not from what’s happening — but from what we think should be happening.From a chaotic (and surprisingly joyful) cooking class to a revealing book club discussion, this episode explores what happens when expectations go unexamined — and how loosening them can make room for more presence, more ease, and more joy before everything is finished.Plus, a quick pop-culture nod to The Traitors and what it gets right about trust, certainty, and assumptions.This isn’t advice — just a check-in, an observation, and an invitation to notice what might shift if expectations loosened their grip.#LivingOnTheVirg#MidlifeReflections#Expectations#SelfAwareness#PersonalGrowth#Lifestyle / Wellness#EmotionalWellbeing#MindsetShift#JoyInTheProcess#IntentionalLiving#LifeObservations#Pop Culture / Crossover#TheTraitors#RealityTVThoughts#PopCultureReflections

What started as a practical closet redo turned into something much more reflective.In this episode, I talk about what excess really represents — why letting go can feel scary, how safety and identity quietly get tied to what we own, and why I’m choosing function over aesthetics and peace over applause in this season of life.I also share a real-life friendship conversation about expectations and presence, break down the RHOSLC reunion (Andy Cohen walking off set, fractured alliances, Mary’s unfiltered accountability, and the infamous scroll), and introduce a new recurring segment: Winos on the Virg — honest, no-hype winery rundowns from Temecula Valley.Plus, a health and wellness check-in on embracing an 80/20 lifestyle, redefining “indulgence,” and learning how to keep moving when your body is in pain.This episode isn’t about having it all figured out — it’s about noticing what’s shifting, trusting yourself more, and choosing a truer life.#LivingontheVirgPodcast#LivingOnTheVirg #MidlifeReflections #FunctionOverAesthetic #PeaceOverApplause #RHOSLC #BravoTV #TemeculaWine #WineCountryLife #WinosOnTheVirg #WellnessInRealLife #MidlifeWomen