Half Betty

• Desiree Dupuis: A walk in her (Vegan) shoes

  In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Founder and Host Andrea Rathborne and Producer/ Co-host Krista Gruen connect across time zones - from Vancouver to Bali -  with Desiree Dupuis, founder and vision-keeper of Voes & Co, a vegan fashion and design brand rooted in sustainability and soul.Desiree opens up about the wild, beautiful path of entrepreneurship - from leaving Vancouver to building a life and business in Bali, and what it means to find belonging far from home. She shares her honest reflections on growth, partnership, and the power of knowing when to invite others in. Through her story, we explore what happens when we stop believing we have to do it all alone and begin to trust collaboration, community, and intuition as the most essential parts of success.Enjoy this candid conversation about redefining strength, leading with heart, and staying grounded, in business, in life, and in the stories we tell ourselves along the way.BioWith over two decades of experience in brand development, storytelling, and purpose-driven marketing, Desirée Dupuis is a force for conscious change. As a social entrepreneur, author, and speaker, she is redefining industries through sustainability, ethics, and innovation.Desirée is the founder of Voes & Co, an iconic global vegan footwear brand on a mission to revolutionize fashion with next-generation materials - proving that style, comfort, and sustainability can coexist without compromise. Beyond business, Desirée is deeply committed to global impact and education. As Chair of Ruben’s Shoes Society, an international NGO she co-founded, she helps provide high-quality education to over 600 students in the Dominican Republic, breaking the cycle of poverty through learning.A passionate vegan advocate since 2008, Desirée is on a mission to challenge the status quo, amplify conscious consumerism, and inspire others to create lasting change. She's the author of "Consciously Chic: A Playbook for Ethical Fashion" and is proud to share and discuss her thoughts about the future of fashion beyond animals and plastic. Desirée’s insights, experience, and unwavering commitment to impact make her a guest you don’t want to miss.Instagram Voes and CoInstagram Desiree WebsiteLinkedinDesiree’s Five Words - ambitious, kindhearted, fun, intuitive, and curious, intentional, loyal Sponsor InformationVoes & CompanyWe love Voes & Co because they are the perfect mix of style, comfort, and sustainability. Designed to effortlessly complement any outfit—from casual to chic—they’re as versatile as they are timeless. Made with next-generation vegan materials, their footwear is soft, breathable, and built to last—without any cruelty. We want you to step out in style and comfort so that’s why we’ve partnered with Voes & Co to bring our subscribers 50% off any pair of shoes! Please use this link to purchase https://voesandcompany.com/discount/BettyLovesVoes Connect with usWebsite link hereInstagram link hereLinkedIn link hereFacebook link hereLeave a voicemail for ushttps://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/Founder/Host: Andrea RathborneCreative Producer/Co-Host: Krista GruenEditors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista GruenAudio Engineer: Ryan ClarkeEpisode sponsors:  Voes and Company

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• Kate Green & Amber Orchard - Menopause: Coming in Hot

  In this episode of Half Betty, Andrea Rathborne and Krista Gruen strike up a conversation with filmmakers Kate Green and Amber Orchard as they share the story behind their upcoming feature documentary Menopause: Coming In Hot! The film is set to have its World Premiere at the Whistler Film Festival this December, 2025. Directed by and starring Kate Green, the film captures her real-time journey through perimenopause with honesty, humour, and heart.Coinciding with World Menopause Day (October 18), Kate and Amber open up about the making of this empowering, insightful, and deeply relatable film that amplifies women’s voices and sheds light on the menopause experience.The trailer for Menopause: Coming In Hot drops October 18th 2025 on World Menopause Day!Director: Kate GreenProducer: Kate Green, Amber Orchard, Jessica Young and Olivia Fellows Writers: Tami Gabay, Jessica Young and Olivia Fellows Story Consultant: Kate GreenCinematographer: Kate Smith Editor: Erin Cumming Assistant Editor: Chloe Bottrell Menopause: Coming In Hot! When a strong-willed perimenopausal documentary filmmaker is told there isn’t a lot of help available for her multiple symptoms, she goes on a mission to find out more about menopause, and finds herself on a quest that makes her relearn everything she thought she knew about aging.BioKate Green is an award-winning director and producer known for her cinematic storytelling and ability to connect deeply with audiences. A creative leader committed to telling vibrant, authentic stories by and for women, Kate brings a strong visual and emotional sensibility to every project.Her feature documentary Menopause: Coming in Hot (TELUS Originals) will premiere at the Whistler Film Festival. She is also releasing her WWII short drama Breakthrough (starring William B. Davis) in 2026.Kate created and directed the sci-fi series NarcoLeap (TELUS OptikTV, CBC GEM, Highball TV), which earned multiple Canadian Screen Award nominations, Writers Guild of Canada, and Leo Award nods, and international festival wins, including “Best Sci-Fi” at Miami Web Fest, Baltimore Next Media Web Fest, and Asia Web Awards. With over 300K views and 2.4M in social media reach, NarcoLeap Season 2 continued its success, winning Best Digital Series at the Blood in the Snow Festival.Her earlier documentaries Not a Stranger and Melting Stars received multiple festival awards, while her short film Murphy’s Law (CBC, CBC GEM) won Best Horror Thriller at the Wild Bunch Film Festival.Kate has directed and produced factual and lifestyle programs for major networks, including Oxygen, HGTV, W Network, CBC, History, Discovery, Fuel TV, and Channel 4. Most recently, Kate contributed to the Challenge Department on Fear Factor: The Next Chapter alongside Johnny Knoxville. She is an alumna of Vancouver Island University, University of British Columbia, Women in the Director’s Chair, the National Screen Institute, and the Reykjavík International Film Festival Talent Lab.Amber Orchard began her producing career at the age of nine on the school playground and has been driven by a passion for entertainment and storytelling ever since. For over 30 years, she has produced events across the non-profit, corporate, and private sectors, building a reputation for thoughtful, high-impact experiences. She also previously served as the Association Manager for Screen BC, supporting advocacy and industry-wide initiatives for British Columbia’s film and television community.In 2020, Amber shifted her focus to screen production, joining Kate Green Productions as Production Manager on Murphy’s Law (CBC), Co-Producing NarcoLeap Season 2, and, most recently, the documentary Menopause: Coming in Hot. Her screen credits have since grown to include Bush Wreck Rescue (Discovery), Pamela’s Garden of Eden (HGTV), Million Dollar Secret (Netflix), and Extracted (Fox), along with several acclaimed short films.Most recently, Amber joined Industrial Light & Magic as Studio Operations Manager, bringing her production and operations experience to one of the world’s most iconic studios.Instagram Film Menopause: Coming In HotKGP Films Kate GreenWebsite: Kate Green ProductionsAmber Amber Orchard IMDB Menopause: Coming In HotFor PR regarding the film please reach out to Callista Ryan at Coldwater CommunicationsFive wordsKate - confident, fun, loyalAmber - Resourceful, Fun, Loyal, Caring, Dependable, Positive, Organized References Janet Ko & Trish Barbato - Founders of The Menopause Foundation of Canada Menopause Works Here CampaignArticle in Playback Magazine (Canadian trade publication covering the country's production, broadcasting and interactive media industries) announcing their world premiere.Sponsor InformationVoes & CompanyWe love Voes & Co because they are the perfect mix of style, comfort, and sustainability. Designed to effortlessly complement any outfit—from casual to chic—they’re as ve...

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• The Desvarieux Sisters: Jessie's Girls

  In this episode of the Half Betty Podcast, Founder, Host, and Producer Andrea Rathborne and Producer and Co-Host Krista Gruen sit down with sisters Jess and Moonie Desvarieux. Once navigating careers in journalism and law, Jess and Moonie have pivoted to include comedy, screenwriting, and directing, letting their authentic voices shine. They discuss their award-winning web series Moonie, their feature script Butch Baby Mama, and their vision to honour their late mother, Jessie, by supporting education and healthcare projects in Haiti.The sisters share their journey through grief, revealing how humour became both survival and healing. Their work is sharp, funny, and unflinchingly honest, yet rooted in purpose: carrying forward their mother’s legacy and creating opportunities for children and families to thrive. They explore ambition that defies convention, the courage to stay true to oneself, and the power of stories to inspire and rebuild communities.Amid laughter and heartfelt moments, Jess and Moonie remind listeners that joy and justice often go hand in hand, inspiring us to show up fully, authentically, and with purpose.BiosMoonie Desvarieux is a Haitian-American lawyer turned stand-up comedian, TV & Film writer, and actor. As a comedian, she has opened for D.L. Hughley & Bob the Drag Queen. She has also made it to the finals of Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson’s National Comedy Competition and has performed several times in the New York Comedy Festival,  The New York Queer Comedy Festival & The Black Women in Comedy Laff Festival.  Moonie co-wrote the comedic screenplay, Butch Baby Mama, with her sister/creative partner, Jess Desvarieux. This movie was a finalist in Stage 32’s Best Comedic Screenplay competition. Butch Baby Mama was also selected to partake in TIFF’s 2024 Inside Out Finance Forum, where it was pitched to major executives at Netflix, NEON and A24, to name a few. Moonie is also the co-creator & lead actor in the award-winning episodic web series, Moonie, the Black, Queer version of “Seinfeld, “ which has been selected and screened in over fifteen national and international film festivals. Moonie was also nominated for a 2023 Queerties award for Best Web Series.Jess Desvarieux is a former Time Magazine award-winning journalist and now a screenwriter and director based in Washington, DC. She is the co-creator, head writer, and director of the comedy web series MOONIE. The series was nominated for a Queerties Award for Best Web Series and screened in fourteen national and international film festivals.  She co-wrote the screenplay, Butch Baby Mama, with her sister and creative partner, Moonie Desvarieux. This movie was a finalist in Stage 32’s Best Comedic Screenplay competition, and they were selected to participate at TIFF's ‘Inside Out’ Finance Forum where they pitched to major executives at Netflix, Neon and A24, to name a few. The dynamic duo also have their own podcast called A Good Laugh - a podcast centred on how humour isn’t just an escape but a path to healing and resistance.Website Phases of MoonieA Good LaughInstagram MoonieJess DesvarieuxMoonie The WebseriesA Good LaughYouTubeMoonie The WebseriesFive wordsMoonie - powerful, loving and connected leader, entertainer, empath, and visionaryJess - brave, resilient, authentic, and compassionate References Momentum EducationStage 32GLAADFav Quotes"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "It truly is a great paradox that death is the greatest teacher about life. No person or situation could ever teach you as much as death has to teach you. While someone could tell you, you are not your body. Death shows you. Though someone can remind you of the insignificance of the things that you cling to, death takes them away in a second. While people can teach you that we are all equal between the races and there is no difference between the rich and the poor, death instantly makes us all the same. The question is, are you going to wait until that last minute to let death be your teacher?" - Michael Singer Sponsor InformationVoes & CompanyWe love Voes & Co because they are the perfect mix of style, comfort, and sustainability. Designed to effortlessly complement any outfit—from casual to chic—they’re as versatile as they are timeless. Made with next-generation vegan materials, their footwear is soft, breathable, and built to last—without any cruelty. We want you to step out in style and comfort so that’s why we’ve partnered with Voes & Co to bring our subscribers 50% off any pair of shoes! Please use this link to purchase https://voesandcompany.com/discount/BettyLovesVoes LobaForget the cheap plastic cases — Loba is designed with high-end finishes and customizable LED lights that glow when it’s time to take your pills. It connects to WiFi through the Loba App, where you can set daily reminders and let visual cues do the work for you. Inside are 7 daily pill pods, making it easy to stay on track without the mental load. If you take vitamins or supplements, Loba is the upgrade your wellness routine deserves. We partnered with LOBA to offer our subscribers 10% off! Please use this link to purchase https://shoploba.com/HALFBETTYConnect with usWebsite link hereInstagram link hereLinkedIn link hereFacebook link hereLeave a voicemail for ushttps://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/Founder/Host/Producer: Andrea RathborneProducer/Co-Host: Krista GruenEditors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista GruenAudio Engineer: <...

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• Mary Lynn Cloghesy: Authoring a Life

  This week, Andrea and Krista sit down with Mary Lynn Cloghesy -  mother, author, entrepreneur, and creative force. Her midlife years brought with them profound change: the end of a marriage, a concussion, the dissolution of a company, and the unexpected challenge of starting over in school.Instead of breaking her, these experiences became catalysts for transformation. Mary Lynn learned to listen to her intuition, care for herself deeply, and choose courage, joy, and new beginnings again and again.Her journey weaves through storytelling, healthy living, and community-building, and led her to create the Leadership Literary Lab -  a space that helps aspiring authors find their voice and navigate publishing. From children’s books to her debut novel The Chain Link Murder, and from resilience practices to rediscovering joy, Mary Lynn shares the lessons that carried her through midlife transitions and into her most interesting season yet.If you’re navigating change, curious about writing, or seeking strength through storytelling, this episode is for you.BioMary Lynn Cloghesy is a fiction writer from Calgary, AB, and the founder of the Leadership Literary Lab, where she helps experts transform their knowledge into exceptional non-fiction books. Since launching in 2023, the Lab has already achieved notable success - her first mentored author secured a traditional publishing contract, a rare accomplishment in today’s market.After returning to school in 2020 following a thirty-year hiatus, she completed two graduate degrees, including a master’s in creative and critical writing. Her work has been twice nominated for the Claymore Award, and while her longer manuscripts lean toward genre fiction, she also writes short-form literary fiction, with pieces published in a variety of magazines and recognized in competitions.Linkedin - Mary Lynn CloghesyWebsite - Mary Lynn Cloghesy Business - The Literary Lab (the program that takes your book from conception to completion in twelve months or less)Instagram -  @wild_rose_writerSubstack - Wild Rose Writer Mary Lynn’s Five Words - Creativity, Kind, Strong, Entrepreneurial, FunBooksMary Lynn Cloghesy - Augustus Bartholomew Bertrand and the The Super Computer CaperAmy Schembri - “Making It… Or Not: The Real Journey Told by Professional Players”Writer’s Conference Killer Nashville (Aug. 20-23 2026)Sponsor InformationVoes & CompanyWe love Voes & Co because they are the perfect mix of style, comfort, and sustainability. Designed to effortlessly complement any outfit—from casual to chic—they’re as versatile as they are timeless. Made with next-generation vegan materials, their footwear is soft, breathable, and built to last—without any cruelty. We want you to step out in style and comfort so that’s why we’ve partnered with Voes & Co to bring our subscribers 50% off any pair of shoes! Please use this link to purchase https://voesandcompany.com/discount/BettyLovesVoes LobaForget the cheap plastic cases — Loba is designed with high-end finishes and customizable LED lights that glow when it’s time to take your pills. It connects to WiFi through the Loba App, where you can set daily reminders and let visual cues do the work for you. Inside are 7 daily pill pods, making it easy to stay on track without the mental load. If you take vitamins or supplements, Loba is the upgrade your wellness routine deserves. We partnered with LOBA to offer our subscribers 10% off! Please use this link to purchase https://shoploba.com/HALFBETTYConnect with usWebsite link hereInstagram link hereLinkedIn link hereFacebook link hereLeave a voicemail for ushttps://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/Founder/Host: Andrea RathborneCreative Producer/Co-Host: Krista GruenEditors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista GruenAudio Engineer: Ryan ClarkeEpisode sponsors: LOBA and Voes and Company

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• Kristina Spring: Good to Have Heros

  This episode features a heartfelt conversation with Kristina Spring, who shares her deeply personal journey through illness, uncertainty, and transformation during midlife. Hosted by Andrea Rathborne and Co-Hosted/ Produced by Krista Gruen.Kristina recounts her experience with a complex medical journey that began in France with a tick bite in 2012, leading to Lyme disease and, years later, a series of neurological symptoms and ambiguous diagnoses, including a presumed brain tumor. She describes the emotional toll of living with uncertainty, the impact on her family, and the isolation that came from trying to make others understand her experience.A turning point comes when Kristina connects with two others, Emily and Kevin, who are facing similar health challenges. Together, they form a support group called "The Brain Buds," which becomes a source of empathy, humor, and mutual inspiration. Through this new community, Kristina learns to release the pressure on her immediate circle of family and friends to find strength in shared understanding.The conversation explores themes of resilience, the importance of community, and the ripple effects of personal struggles on loved ones. Kristina reflects on how her journey has shaped her empathy and gratitude, and how, despite the challenges, she has found ways to thrive and reclaim joy in her life.The episode closes with a message about the power of connection, the value of finding "your people," and the hope that sharing stories can help others feel less alone in their own journeys.BioKristina Spring is a 53-year-old East Van resident who has spent the past thirty years working as a youth worker, dedicating her career to supporting young people and their communities. Four years ago, she was diagnosed with Gliomatosis, a rare brain cancer which has a typical prognosis of just eighteen months. Despite the odds, Kristina continues to live fully, alongside her partner of 29 years, her two adult children close by, and her beloved dogs.Kristina isn’t telling her story to raise awareness for a campaign, launch a movement, or rally followers online. There are no hashtags to click, no organizations to join. She speaks up because stories matter. Community matters. And sometimes what shifts the course of a life isn’t the many, but the few.Now, as a woman in midlife reflecting on her own journey of catalyst and transformation, Kristina feels called to share her story with Half Betty and its listeners. In her words and experiences, she hopes others may find a spark of connection, comfort, or relatability — a reminder that living the best life we can, for ourselves and for others, is its own quiet act of courage.Kristina’s Five Wordsimpatient, impulsive, bratty, curious, creative, others have said - purposeful and intentional Sponsor InformationVoes & CompanyWe love Voes & Co because they are the perfect mix of style, comfort, and sustainability. Designed to effortlessly complement any outfit—from casual to chic—they’re as versatile as they are timeless. Made with next-generation vegan materials, their footwear is soft, breathable, and built to last—without any cruelty. We want you to step out in style and comfort so that’s why we’ve partnered with Voes & Co to bring our subscribers 50% off any pair of shoes! Please use this link to purchase https://voesandcompany.com/discount/BettyLovesVoes LobaForget the cheap plastic cases — Loba is designed with high-end finishes and customizable LED lights that glow when it’s time to take your pills. It connects to WiFi through the Loba App, where you can set daily reminders and let visual cues do the work for you. Inside are 7 daily pill pods, making it easy to stay on track without the mental load. If you take vitamins or supplements, Loba is the upgrade your wellness routine deserves. We partnered with LOBA to offer our subscribers 10% off! Please use this link to purchase https://shoploba.com/HALFBETTYConnect with usWebsite link hereInstagram link hereLinkedIn link hereFacebook link hereLeave a voicemail for ushttps://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/Founder/Host: Andrea RathborneCreative Producer/Co-Host: Krista GruenEditors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista GruenAudio Engineer: Ryan ClarkeEpisode sponsors: LOBA and Voes and Company

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