In this powerful episode, I sit down with Whitney Walker, a licensed marriage and family therapist, recovery coach, spiritual guide, and host of the Women Waken podcast. Whitney shares her incredibly raw and vulnerable journey, from a childhood marked by an absent father and an emotionally immature mother to struggling with debilitating low self-esteem, addiction, and eating disorders in her 20s.

She opens up about hitting rock bottom, a moment where she realized "time's run out" on the chaos and just wanted peace, and how that catalyzed her profound transformation. We explore the concept of addiction as a symptom of not feeling safe or "enough" and the societal conditioning that breeds fear and competition instead of connection.

Our conversation delves deep into the power of the Divine Feminine, contrasting it with the "force" of masculine energy, and how embracing flow, intuition, and collective care can heal both individuals and society. Whitney passionately discusses the need for women to trust their inner wisdom, stand their ground with clarity (like the Queen of Swords in Tarot), and create new systems based on love rather than fear.

You'll also hear about:

• (04:03) Whitney's "brutal yet beautiful" 20s, marked by addiction and insecurity, and finding peace and power turning 40.
• (09:44) Addiction as a search for soothing in a world where we don't feel safe or believe we are our own source of healing.
• (14:38) Growing up with an emotionally absent father and the impact of conditional love on a child's sense of worth.
• (17:39) The simplicity of the solution for humanity: knowing we are safe and loved.
• (27:57) How we "play by the rules of the game that we choose to play" and the power of disengaging from dysfunctional systems.
• (36:01) The "Queen of Swords" energy: deliberate action, clarity, and setting boundaries without malice.
• (40:30) Being wary of gurus who claim their way is the only way, and trusting your own intuition.
• (47:19) Whitney's beautiful definition of "Rewrite the Mother Code": recognizing that we all have the ability to mother—to love, nurture, and see others—regardless of whether we have children.

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Learn more about Whitney Walker:

• Learn more on Whitney's Website
• Follow Whitney on Instagram (DM her to connect!)
• Listen to the Women Waken Podcast

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• Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
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• Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s Substack
• Order Dr. Gertrude’s new book “

In this insightful episode, Dr. Gertrude Lyons welcomes Emily Paulsen, an award-winning entrepreneur, brand strategist through her studio Electric Collab, and host of the Curious Life of a Child-Free Woman podcast. Emily is dedicated to shining a light on the often-overshadowed child-free by choice perspective.

Their conversation centers on the powerful collision of the "mother code" world with the child-free narrative, demonstrating that the essence of mothering is universal, regardless of motherhood status. Emily shares her deep personal passion for empowering women, describing "girlfriends" as her love language. This passion for female community is what Dr. Lyons connects to the core of self-mothering, explaining that while the spark begins within, the "blaze" is ignited and kept alive in sisterhood.

They discuss how patriarchal and over-masculine value systems have historically sought to disempower women by splitting them up and pitting them against each other. The episode also tackles the intense societal judgment placed on women, referencing the shocking death threats received by a woman who dared to write about "regretting having children". Emily also details her work with Electric Collab, which is focused on helping women entrepreneurs and founders articulate their unique value and "secret sauce" to the world through premium branding.

You'll also hear about:

• (03:08) The challenge for women to define themselves beyond statistics (job, marital status, kids) .
• (03:25) Emily's lifelong passion for female community, calling "girlfriends" her love language.
• (03:30) Her frustration as a cheerleader that their job was to root for boys, not celebrate the women's own accomplishments.
• (05:10) Emily's continued commitment to female community through college and career, and her current work to professionally and personally build other women up.
• (06:00) Dr. Gertrude Lyons's distinction between mothering (universal) and motherhood (choice), and the critical importance of self-mothering.
• (07:18) Why the self-mothering flame is amplified in community and how the separation of women is a tool of disempowerment.
• (07:53) How patriarchal and over-masculine value systems intentionally split and pit women against each other to disempower them.
• (20:19) The profound and hostile reaction, including death threats, a woman received for sharing her truth about "regretting having children".
• (29:51) How the word "selfish" is weaponized against women on both sides of the parenting divide—whether for not having kids or for having them.
• (38:40) The importance of normalizing child-free lives beyond celebrities like Oprah and Dolly Parton to show that it is a valid, happy path for everyday women.
• (42:23) The workplace bias that assumes child-free women have unlimited free time and should pick up the slack.
• (49:40) Why parents should include child-free friends in kid-centric events rather than assuming they don't want to attend to avoid creating an "echo chamber".
• (51:40) Emily's work with her brand studio, Electric Collab, to help women entrepreneurs articulate their unique "secret sauce" and value.

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Learn more about Emily Paulsen:

• Learn more on Emily's

In this deeply moving episode, I speak with Ronit Plank, a writer, teacher, editor, and host of the Let's Talk Memoir podcast. Ronit is the author of the award-winning memoir When She Comes Back, which chronicles the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation.

Ronit shares her powerful story of growing up with a mother who left her and her sister to follow a guru in India, and her father who then became a single parent. We explore the profound impact of abandonment, the role of the "parentified" child, and how Ronit navigated these wounds into her own motherhood journey.

Our conversation delves into the transformative power of memoir writing as a tool for healing. Ronit explains how writing her story allowed her to reframe her narrative, understand her parents as complex individuals rather than villains, and move from a place of victimhood to one of agency and acceptance. We discuss the nuances of forgiveness versus acceptance, the importance of taking responsibility for our own patterns in relationships, and why sharing our authentic, messy stories is a vital act of connection and self-mothering.

You'll also hear about:

• (01:39) Ronit's childhood: born on a kibbutz in Israel, moving to the US, and her mother leaving for India to follow Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.
• (04:55) The experience of being a "parentified" older daughter and the lasting impact of early abandonment.
• (08:09) How memoir writing helps reframe personal history and create a "redemptive narrative".
• (20:19) Why Ronit prefers the concept of "acceptance" over "forgiveness" when healing family relationships.
• (25:43) Understanding our own role in family dynamics and taking responsibility for our coping mechanisms.
• (33:07) The varied reactions of Ronit's family members to her memoir, including her father's surprising feedback.
• (43:18) Exploring the "mother who leaves" archetype with compassion and understanding the complex reasons behind such choices.
• (52:07) Ronit's definition of "Rewrite the Mother Code": tuning into intuition and not abandoning oneself while nurturing others.

Join us for this insightful conversation about the power of story, the complexity of family, and the healing journey of rewriting our own narratives.

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Learn more about Ronit Plank:

• Learn more on Ronit's Website
• Connect with Ronit on LinkedIn
• Listen to the Let's Talk Memoir Podcast
• Follow Ronit on Instagram

Follow Dr. Gertrude:

• Learn more on Dr. Gertrude’s Website
• Follow Dr. Gertrude on Instagram
• Stay in the loop and sign up to Dr. Gertrude’s