Half Betty

"The more we chase enough, the further away it gets."
-Mandy Balak
Mandy Balak spent years building a life that looked successful from the outside. An entrepreneur, community builder and founder of The Gathering Festival, she had created the kind of life many of us are taught to want. And yet, somewhere along the way, she realized she was exhausted from maintaining a life that required her to abandon herself to keep it going.
That realization became the beginning of a very different kind of success story.
Mandy is the author of Chasing Enough, a book about something most of us are chasing without ever really stopping to decide what it means. How much is enough? How will we know when we get there? And why does "enough" seem to keep moving just when we think we've found it?
In this episode, Mandy is in conversation with Krista and I about the ideas we carry about what a successful life is supposed to look like, how easy it is to get caught up in all of it, and what happens when we stop and ask ourselves what we actually want.
We hear from Mandy about burnout, but also about that feeling of simply not having anything left to give. She talks about the difference between burnout as the crash and capacity as the math behind it. We talk about the patterns we inherit, and the ways achievement can become so wrapped up in who we think we are. We also talk about what happens when keeping everything together starts to cost us far too much.
Mandy shares the deeply personal story of the moment she walked out of a football stadium during a difficult time in her marriage and, in her words, "walked into the most important work of my life". We talk about therapy, the stories we carry from childhood and the ways those stories can quietly become the blueprint for our adult lives.
And then there is the idea of enough.
Not as a finish line, and certainly not as giving up on ambition, but as something we get to define for ourselves as our lives change.
Mandy's book is part memoir and part guidebook, inviting us to notice, let go and reimagine. And perhaps that is what this conversation is really about.  Not becoming someone entirely new, but noticing the life we are living, questioning the parts we inherited and deciding what we want to keep.
Because sometimes the life that looks perfectly fine from the outside is asking for a rewrite.And sometimes enough isn't something we find. It's something we decide.
"Success used to look like a full calendar, and now it looks like how present can I be?" 
- Mandy Balak
Book available in  Canada starting September 22nd and in the the United States October 20th.

Bio
Mandy Balak builds communities where high-performance leaders think bigger and stay resourced.
As President of The Gathering, she's building North America's most distinctive brand leadership community. It is a gathering place where 2,500+ CMOs, brand leaders and founders connect annually to lead with clarity, build legacies, and create competitive advantage. She's also the director of The Brand Hall of Fame, the first industry recognition program built on the principle that brands with the deepest devotion win.
A 3x founder with a successful exit, Mandy has spent 18+ years advising executives on how to scale impact without burning out. Her first book, Chasing Enough: The High Achiever's Guide to Sustainable Success, launches fall 2026. It's a direct challenge to leaders building in a broken way - You can't build what lasts on empty.
Mandy speaks on leadership, community, brand strategy, and the business case for well-resourced teams.
 
Website: mandybalak.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandybalak/ 
Podcast: https://mandybalak.com/podcast 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mandy_balak/videos 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandybalak/ 
Chasing Enough book: enough.mandybalak.com 
Meet Mandy on her Book Tour: https://tour.mandybalak.com/ 
The Gathering:  www.thegatheringfestival.com
Brand Hall of Fame: www.brandhalloffame.org
Substack: https://mandybalak.substack.com/ 
 
Mandy's Words -  "Stop shoulding on yourself"
 
References
Vancouver Sept 26th book tour 
​​https://do604.com/events/2026/9/26/chasing-enough-live-tickets
The 8 Questions my Husband and I Ask Each Other Every Sunday
https://mandybalak.substack.com/p/the-3-questions-my-husband-and-i?r=22jdj0&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web 
 
Connect with us
Website link here
Instagram link here
LinkedIn link here
Facebook link here
Leave a voicemail for us
https://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/
 
Guest: Mandy Balak
Founder/Host/Producer: Andrea Rathborne
Producer/Co-Host: Krista Gruen
Editors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista Gruen
Audio Engineer: Alex McCarthy

Lynn Harris
S2 E13
Date: August 20th, 2026
Title: We are all Golden 
 
Summary
Lynn Harris has spent much of her life making people laugh - finding the funny.  As the founder of GOLD Comedy, a place where women and non-binary creators can hone their craft, find their people and build something of their own, Lynn has had no shortage of twists, turns and adventures in her own life. There was journalism, activism, book writing, politics and even a Tonya Harding lookalike moment (which is probably best explained by Lynn herself).

And then, midlife. The chapter of change, where some things can feel lost, forgotten or set aside. But sometimes, what we thought was long finished shows up again. An old dream. A part of ourselves we haven't thought about in years. Something we thought we'd outgrown, only to realize maybe we hadn't. And maybe that's part of what midlife shares with us - the chance to find our way back to the dreams, visions, and joys that still matter. 
For Lynn, this has meant finding her way back to writing and performing. Back to comedy. Back to some of the parts of herself that may have been waiting patiently in the wings - the side of the stage. 
In this episode, you'll hear more about where Lynn came from, what shaped her, why she built GOLD Comedy, and what happens when the woman who has spent years helping other people find their funny starts listening more closely to her own. Because comedy can be a job, a business, a community and, sometimes, it can be a lens for looking at life that feels changed and recognizing that the community is still there, gathered, laughing and creating. And, maybe that is the Goldenest part of all.
Bio
Lynn Harris is a culture-shifting producer, award-winning journalist, and author/co-author of six books. Her comedy and campaigns for social justice and gender equity have changed laws and conversations from Capitol Hill to NASCAR. She is founder and CEO of GOLD Comedy - the comedy school, professional network, and content studio where women and non-binary creators grow their comedy careers, build powerful communities, and make themselves and their communities laugh. Harris co-created Breakup Girl (acquired by Oxygen), one of the first multiplatform internet success stories, and co-hosted, with Ginna Green, The Forward's A Bintel Brief: The Podcast. Lynn served as the first VP of Communications at Global Human Rights Group Breakthrough, where her blend of humour and advocacy powered some of the team's most effective U.S. campaigns. She has also worked as a Tonya Harding lookalike, which is another story. 
 
GOLD Comedy
Instagram 
Facebook
YouTube
Linkedin
 
Lynn's Five Words
Collaborative
Creative
Impatient
Salty
Hungry
 
References
GOLD Comedy is a comedy school, professional network and content studio where women, non-binary creators can hone their craft, find their people and build something of their own. Through classes, community, shows and more, GOLD creates space for comedians to develop their voices and bring their work into the world - wherever and whomever they are. 
 
Sponsor Information
Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry
Use the code HALFBETTY and receive 20% off your first purchase
 
Connect with us
Website link here
Instagram link here
LinkedIn link here
Facebook link here
Youtube link here
Leave a voicemail for us
https://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/
 
Guest: Lynn Harris
Founder/Host/Producer: Andrea Rathborne
Producer/Co-Host: Krista Gruen
Editors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista Gruen
Audio Engineer: Alex McCarthy
Episode sponsors:  Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry

We have always loved the way conversations wander. Not because they lose their way, but because they so often find something better.

A story about a first job becomes a story about courage. A memory from childhood becomes a reflection on friendship. Someone mentions a woman named Alice, and suddenly you're talking about the people who quietly change the direction of our lives without ever knowing they have.

It's exactly where this conversation with Denise and Kamesha from Wisdom in Bloom took us.
Together, Andrea, Krista, Denise and Kamesha explore the stories that shape us—the unexpected turns, the friendships that carry us, the mentors who see something in us before we see it ourselves, and the courage it takes to begin something new.
Denise and Kamesha share the story behind Wisdom in Bloom, a podcast created from their shared belief that women's stories and wisdom deserve to be heard. They reflect on friendship, creative partnership, and the ongoing journey of becoming.

And, as every Half Betty conversation does, this episode eventually arrives at Five Words.

What had originally started as a simple invitation for each guest to gather five words that feel true has become one of the most meaningful moments in every conversation.
There is no right answer. No perfect combination. No expectation to arrive at them quickly. Just curiosity, honesty, and the bravery of reflecting on who we have been, who we are, and who we are becoming.

For Denise and Kamesha, this reflection became something much bigger than a question at the end of an episode. They shared how these words will stay with them long after the conversation ends - a powerful declaration of self, shaped by the experiences, challenges, friendships and moments that have brought them here.
Because stories help us make sense of our lives. Conversations help us hear those stories differently. And, Five Words help us remember who we are.
Bio

Denise and Kamesha are the co-hosts and creators of Wisdom in Bloom, a podcast and community celebrating women in midlife through honest conversations about identity, friendship, growth, resilience and the wisdom that comes from lived experience.

Through their conversations, Denise and Kamesha create space for women to share their stories, reflect on the moments that shaped them, and embrace the ongoing journey of becoming.
Their friendship and shared belief that every woman carries stories worth telling are at the heart of Wisdom in Bloom.
References
Website
Instagram 
Facebook 
YouTube
 
Denise's Five Words
Nurturer, Grace, Brave, Resilient, Worrier
Kamesha's Five Words
Resilient, Kind, Figure-Outer, Evolving, Spirited
Sponsor Information
Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry
Use the code HALFBETTY and receive 20% off your first purchase


Connect with us:
Website link here
Instagram link here
LinkedIn link here
Facebook link here


Leave a voicemail for us
https://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/


Guest: Denise & Kamesha | Wisdom in Bloom
Founder/Host/Producer: Andrea Rathborne
Producer/Co-Host: Krista Gruen
Editors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista Gruen
Audio Engineer: Alex McCarthy
Episode sponsors: Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry

In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, Andrea and Krista welcome their first UK guest to the Half Betty Podcast - writer, wellbeing curator, coach, and podcast host Claire Fitzsimmons.

Claire is the co-founder of If Lost, Start Here, a wellbeing company supporting people as they navigate life's wilds with greater emotional honesty, clarity, and self-compassion. She is also the host of the podcast A Thought I Kept, where she explores the ideas, moments, and conversations that stay with us long after they happen.
This episode marks more than simply Half Betty's first conversation with a UK guest; it feels like the beginning of a meaningful bridge between communities, cultures, and shared conversations around midlife, identity, growth and transformation. 

Together, Andrea, Krista, and Claire explore the cultural differences between North America and the UK when it comes to visibility in midlife, emotional expression, and conversations about women's evolving identities. They discuss the uniquely British tendency to soften discomfort with humour, the challenges of asking for what we need, and why so many of us are still learning how to articulate what we feel.
Claire shares her personal story -  from witnessing her mother's struggles with mental health in midlife to navigating her own experiences with anxiety and depression - and reflects on how these experiences shaped both her work and her understanding of whole and well-being.

This conversation gently but powerfully challenges the modern obsession with wellness hacks, optimization, and the endless pursuit of self-improvement. Instead, Claire offers listeners a more compassionate and sustainable perspective that our health and wellness may not be something to chase, but something that we shape within the beautifully imperfect reality of everyday life.

At the heart of this episode, there is a sense of unlearning of emotional courage and the moving  truth that midlife is not a finished chapter, but an ongoing becoming.

Sometimes being lost is not a signal that something has gone wrong. But. simply the beginning of a new chapter. And, for some, an entirely new book. 


Bio
Claire Fitzsimmons is a wellbeing writer, coach, podcast host, and co-founder of If Lost, Start Here, a wellbeing company on a mission to help people find their way to a better place.


As an ICF Associate Certified Coach and a certified Emotions Coach Practitioner, Claire works with women navigating change, burnout, emotional overwhelm, or an experience of feeling stuck. She helps people untangle what they're feeling, find clarity, and create a sustainable wellbeing practice that fits the shape of their everyday lives.


Claire's writing on mental health, emotions, and midlife wellbeing has appeared in Happiful, Breathe, The Simple Things, and others, with features in Stylist, Red, and Psychologies. Her first book, If Lost, Start Here: Wellbeing for the anxious, disconnected or uncertain, co-authored with Amanda Sheeren, is available now.


Claire is also the host of the podcast A Thought I Kept, where each week she speaks with guests from across creative, academic, business, and wellbeing fields about the ideas that stay with us for a lifetime. (Andrea was a guest on Claire's podcast with her conversation found here: A Library made of Moments ) 


Book
If Lost Start Here - Wellbeing for the Anxious, Disconnected or Uncertain
Created by Amanda Sheeren and Claire Fitzsimmons


References
Website https://www.ifloststarthere.com/ 
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ifloststarthere
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ifloststarthere
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@AThoughtIKept
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-fitzsimmons-4130aa100 
Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2521342 
Substack https://moregooddays.substack.com AND https://itsalotactually.substack.com 
 
Claire's Five Words 
Emotional
Curious (thoughtful)
Creative
Loyal
Tenacious

Sponsor Information
Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry
Use the code HALFBETTY and receive 20% off your first purchase


Connect with us
Website link here
Instagram link here
LinkedIn link here
Facebook link here


Leave a voicemail for us
https://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/


Guest: Claire Fitzsimmons
Founder/Host/Producer: Andrea Rathborne
Producer/Co-Host: Krista Gruen
Editors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista Gruen
Audio Engineer: Alex McCarthy
Episode sponsors:  Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry

What happens when the career you've built no longer fits the life you want? This week, Andrea and Krista sit down with Dr. Kelly Kasteel—emergency physician, Mum, and founder of Emerge Wellness.

After 17 years in emergency medicine, Kelly found herself facing burnout, questioning her identity, and navigating the very real challenges of perimenopause. She shares how the pressures of COVID, coupled with a traumatic workplace incident, became the catalyst for stepping away and reimagining her future.
What started as an interest in aesthetics quickly revealed something much bigger: women in midlife (including herself) were struggling to find support, answers, and care. Determined to fill that gap, Kelly immersed herself in learning all the information she wasn't taught in medical school and now helps women navigate hormones, perimenopause, confidence, energy, and overall wellbeing.

We dive into the symptoms so many women experience but rarely talk about, the evolving conversation around testosterone, and why self-advocacy is one of the most important tools we have. It's an honest, empowering conversation about reinvention, resilience, and taking ownership of your health—because, as Kelly reminds us, no one's coming to save you.

Whether you're curious about hormones, feeling stuck in a season of change, or simply wondering if what you're experiencing is "normal," this episode offers practical guidance, reassurance, and plenty of reasons to keep asking questions.


Bio
Dr. Kelly Kasteel, MD, CCFP-EM, known as Dr. KK, is the founder of Emerge Wellness MD in New Westminster, BC, Canada. After 17 years in emergency medicine, she built one of the most in-demand aesthetics practices in Vancouver's Lower Mainland, the kind of place where you finally feel like you have a girlfriend who also happens to be your doctor. She's known for a boutique, natural-outcomes approach at accessible price points that leaves women looking like themselves, just better. She believes aesthetics and hormone health belong together, and her own perimenopause journey and testosterone therapy is what brought those two worlds under one roof. You can find her candid, evidence-based take on midlife women's health on her Substack, Dr. KK: Hot and Informed, and on Instagram at @drkellykasteel, where she shows up with the same warmth and radical honesty she brings to her clinic every day.


Website https://www.emergewellnessmd.com/ 
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drkellykasteel/
Substack https://substack.com/@drkellykasteel 


Dr. Kelly's words - Radically authentic, warmly disruptive, refreshingly real, unapologetically direct, brilliantly approachable


Sponsor Information
Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry
Use the code HALFBETTY and receive 20% off your first purchase


Connect with us
Website link here
Instagram link here
LinkedIn link here
Facebook link here


Leave a voicemail for us
https://www.halfbetty.com/voicemail/


Guest: Dr. Kelly Kasteel
Founder/Host/Producer: Andrea Rathborne
Producer/Co-Host: Krista Gruen
Editors: Andrea Rathborne & Krista Gruen
Audio Engineer: Alex McCarthy
Episode sponsors:  Zaleska size-inclusive jewelry