Darlene Lancer is an author, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and expert in relationships and codependency. Her bestselling books include Dating, Loving, and Leaving a Narcissist, Conquering Shame and Codependency: 8 Steps to Freeing the True You, and Codependency for Dummies. Each reflects her deep understanding of relationships and codependency recovery. Her newest book, Dating, Loving, and Leaving a Narcissist: Essential Tools for Improving or Leaving Narcissistic and Abusive Relationships, zeroes in on the core issue that causes victims of abuse so much unhappiness. 

Darlene’s ability as an emotional intuitive enables her to identify problems at their source and to draw on her extensive personal and professional experience to find solutions. With over 30 years of providing self-esteem and codependency counseling, Darlene has helped countless women and men recover from codependency and trauma. For her, change requires awareness, courage, action, and being supported to take productive risks when ready. Her helping clients overcome self-defeating beliefs and behaviors enables them to be more self-expressive and enjoy greater life satisfaction.

Aura Martinez is a self-discovery and empowerment coach who guides her people through common pitfalls in their pursuit of happiness. Aura shares her transformative journey from feeling lost and unfulfilled to becoming an empowered coach who helps women find daily fulfillment and certainty in their lives. Aura's personal journey was not without its challenges, and she speaks candidly about the obstacles many women like her face, including a lack of self-acceptance that hindered her professional growth. Aura reminds us that the journey to self-discovery is ongoing and requires inner work, spiritual alignment, and yes, curiosity. Aura’s story vividly demonstrates how to create separation between temporary happiness and enduring fulfillment.   

The history of witches has ancient connections to women as the primary users of magic, which is revered by some and feared by many. The idea of the evil "witch" evolved over time, particularly with the medieval association of witchcraft with Devil worship, which fueled the widespread persecution of women. Today, the image of the witch has transformed. One woman, who is not intimidated or shamed by being called a witch, is Rissa Miller.  Her expertise stems from being raised in a nontraditional family with nontraditional beliefs, as well as extensive research into esoteric history, including ghosts, witchcraft, cryptids, and folklore.

Temi Ajibewa is a Personal Brand Expert, Business Coach for Coaches, Author, Mentor, and Transformational Speaker. However, Temi will tell you herself that she is more than her list of impressive titles. Listen to her speak and you will hear stories of family dysfunction, personal struggle, self-discovery, resilience, and reinvention. From battling chronic people-pleasing syndrome to becoming an Amazon best-selling author, Temi is passionate about helping individuals and organizations express their full potential.

When Barbara Stone was a little girl, she only wanted to fit in. However, as a child from an immigrant family, fitting in wasn’t in the cards. So, Barb developed a skill set to make herself irresistible; she became a perfectionist. For 25 years, Barb’s obsession with being flawless helped her compete with the boys in the manufacturing sector as she rose up the corporate ladder to executive vice president and CFO. But even with her accomplishments and the offer of a President’s role waiting for her signature, Bard felt that there was one thing missing from her perfect story: happiness. In a stirring TEDx Talk, titled “Why Being Perfect is Overrated,” Barb challenged an audience to confront the ways people often hide behind achievements and strive for unattainable ideals. In this Podcast episode, Barb explores how the pressure of perfectionism can limit our potential and disconnect us from our true selves. As a leadership development coach, Barb invites clients to embrace their imperfections, celebrate their vulnerabilities, and live authentically.

Rev. Dr. Xenia Barnes' journey to becoming a leading trauma expert is marked by all the required academic qualifications (BA, M.Ed., Th.D., and PhD Candidate), but her unflinching wisdom was forged through profound personal challenges. The 2017 murder of her nephew and her 2021 diagnosis with pulmonary fibrosis and lupus, terminal illnesses requiring a double lung transplant, forged a life story that is a masterclass in resilience and radical self-acceptance. Her experiences convey that while adversity is unavoidable and unpredictable, how we respond is always our choice—but, with the right support, we can turn even our most painful experiences into platforms for growth, advocacy, and joy. 

Annie Izmirliyan is heralded as a financial maverick. With over 20 years of experience in wealth management, financial planning, and sales leadership, her true superpower is transforming misplaced trust and betrayal, which left her on the brink of financial disaster, into her greatest asset. From adversity, Annie created a unique approach that focuses on guiding people through tough times while acknowledging their strengths. It's a philosophy that combines empathy, reassurance, and practical financial guidance. Annie's story embodies hope and empowerment, showing that even life's harshest lessons — yes, even betrayal — can lead to profound personal growth and overwhelming abundance.

Walker Kimberly Brandt is an actress, author, and coach, but in conversation, she is a compelling and compassionate human being. Career-wise, as an actress, her resume includes appearances on screen with Hollywood legends like Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton in "Dante's Peak" and Billy Crystal in "City Slickers." Her TV appearances include "Star Trek: The Next Generation" with Patrick Stewart. Walker recently wrote and published her first book, Awaken – Discovering Yourself Through the Light of Your Innocence, which is an Amazon #1 International Bestseller.  Awaken is an intimate and vulnerable memoir that shares the journey of Walker as a young girl who left a toxic household at 15 after a failed attempt at suicide and, at 16, became an emancipated minor. Walker's story is about releasing self-imposed limitations, leaning into inherent innocence as a source of strength, and creating a fulfilling life regardless of circumstances.  

Dr. Annmarie Waite is a nurse with a Ph.D, who’s also a wellness coach with a unique approach to supporting women on their health and self-care journey.  Her distinctive care is rooted in a foundation of her own life experiences and recognizing common themes of neglect and shame that many women endure that impact their long-term health. Annmarie’s coaching style involves listening deeply and guiding women through the intricacies of their wellness stories, which are often unspoken and overlooked by insensitive medical protocols. For Annmarie, health is a personal mission. Her aim is to help clients break down barriers to discomfort, ultimately leading to transformation and healing.

Episode VBB 344 features Certified Mental Health and Trauma Recovery Life Coach Teresa Ford. Her story samples her life journey as a child raised by emotionally immature and emotionally unavailable parents who left her unprepared to live an empowered life.  Ironically, it was the death of a parent — her mother — that triggered Teresa to explore the keys to healing from generational trauma. On her personal journey, Teresa learned to dismantle codependency, parentification, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, emotional abandonment, and debilitating people pleasing. Teresa now coaches women on taking an intentional stand against playing small, dimming their light, or waiting for permission to thrive and to embrace the fullest expression of their power and purpose. https://www.teresaford.life/about

Holly Shaw is a stand-up comedian and hypnotherapist, renowned as a performance anxiety expert. Before becoming a comedian, Holly was a TV host, film actor, professional dancer, and has since become a speaker and coach. Holly has authored and published three books, including her latest, Queen Lessons: What Stand-Up Comedy Taught Me About Dealing with Life's Hecklers and Finding Courage in Your Queen Years.  In it, she extracts wisdom from the wild world of stand-up comedy and turns it into lessons with captivating true-life stories for other women entering their “queen years”. To hear more, listen to the podcast. To find her book, visit hollyshawcomedy.com.

Entrepreneur, coach, and Amazon bestselling author, Kat Sterling, sets the stage by asking the questions that most people avoid: "Why am I not where I want to be in life? Or, Why am I not winning?" Kat reveals that these questions are reflections born out of self-assessment and hard life lessons. Constantly surrounded by success, Kat felt that despite her corporate efforts and personal achievements, she was falling behind in life. For her, the most significant shift came from being terminated from her corporate gig. It’s an event that most would view as a catastrophic setback, yet Kat transformed it into her launchpad for entrepreneurship. Her motto has since become, “Feel the fear. Jump first, jump head-first!”

With over 30 years of experience as a hairstylist and salon owner, listening to the life drama of her customers, Dianne Harris was well-positioned to become a successful Life and Relationship Coach, a role she has excelled at for the past five years. In her personal life drama, Dianne is a twice-divorced single mother of three sons, and a survivor of the insidious effects of emotional abuse. After spending years in a toxic marriage with someone she once believed was her forever, she made the brave decision to choose herself, walk away, and rebuild her life from the ground up. Her journey led to deep healing, radical self-love, and the creation of a coaching practice that now helps other women do the same.

Dianne's passion is helping women—especially purpose-driven professionals in midlife—reclaim their identity, rebuild their self-worth, and attract emotionally healthy love, starting with the most crucial relationship, the one women have with themselves. 

"I specialize in emotional abuse recovery, self-trust, boundary setting, dating after divorce, and rising from heartbreak with clarity and confidence. I'm also writing my memoir, Love Bomb, which shares her personal story of surviving emotional manipulation—and turning her pain into purpose."

Deena Baikowitz, aka Fireball Deena, is a dynamic coach, trainer, facilitator, speaker, and comedian with a unique way of delivering serious business and career advice that’s infused with creativity, compassion, and, of course, humour.  Deena’s educational and career background spans social work, healthcare, marketing, events, and the arts, which have expanded into global networking, branding, marketing, and special events. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Deena’s motivated to encourage women to step into their power by embracing the spotlight. “I think that for women, taking the stage is about making a difference. It's about leading by example. It is definitely empowering to know that you can stand up and make a difference.“ Christopher & Heather are privileged to introduce you to a little Fireball named Deena.

VIRGIN.BEAUTY.BITCH, are not words women choose. These words, historically, have been used to put and keep women in their place. V.B.B. Podcast acknowledges the harmful intent and history of these words: the Virgin as pure and obedient, a sexually repressed woman; Beauty being adored or objectified and disrespected, and the Bitch punished for expressing her autonomy and being herself. However, Christopher & Heather share how a conscious shift in perspective and attitude can show how these words can also hold tremendous potential for women’s personal growth and the evolution of womanhood.

Koya Bakare is a NY model featured in Essence, Vogue, and InStyle. She’s also an educator, author, and the National Beauty Pageant Winner of the Elite Ms. US United — 2024-25. However, for Koya, pageantry is much more than the crown and the glitz. For her, the discipline of modelling became the avenue that gave her the courage to dig deep within herself, confront a debilitating past, and find her voice. “My crown was always there,” I simply needed to find my voice and to remember to share it with heart and pride.”

Dr. Jody Carrington is a fearless champion for authentic human connection. Her energy and genuine approach are to help people solve the most complex human-centered problems. In a rapidly disconnected world that leaves so many overwhelmed, lonely, and burned out, Dr. Jody boldly believes that all humans have the capacity for good. However, because of isolation and burnout, we have lost access to our reservoir of good.

Understanding how we got disconnected, what is needed to put the pieces back together, and how collectively we can find our way back home is Dr. Jody's passion. With a rare combination of authenticity, honesty, and levity, she never fails to inspire, motivate, and charm.

As the founder and principal psychologist at Carrington & Company, Dr. Jody has written three best-selling books, speaks on hundreds of stages globally each year, and hosts the podcast UNLONELY. She sets a high bar even with her own children: "I can't tell my kids how to be great. I have to show them."  In this modern world, where we look but don't see, where we listen but don't hear, Dr. Jody shares with VBB an important message: We were never meant to do any of this alone.

In 2024, a contest was created to promote the most beautiful women the world has ever seen.  The competition is the brainchild of the World AI Creators Awards (WAICAS).  As the name suggests, real women need not apply, as all contestants are AI-generated personalities admired for their pixelated perfection. 

We - Christopher & Heather - were curious, so we discussed where this idea would push already unrealistic standards and ideals set for beauty that women have been burdened to meet or at least keep up with in exchange for social status, attention, or affection. 

To justify some of the skepticism about these AI-generated beauty contestants only being boy toy fantasies, contestants are being judged based on three criteria: aesthetic beauty, the technical skill that went into creating them, and their online and business clout. In some cases, that includes contestants with over 250,000 followers on Instagram and employment earnings in the neighbourhood of up to $10,840 a month, or on average $3,252 monthly, working as virtual models for clothing and jewelry companies. 

Virtual or not, the impact of AI models is real, but will the standards these models set around "what is beauty and who is beautiful," which are already unrealistic and unattainable for most real women, become even more exhausting?    

Tori Jenae has lived through a personal hell that has included childhood trauma, family dysfunction, betrayal, abandonment, divorce, plus the kind of grief that can crack a person’s soul wide open. Remarkably, she not only survived, she transformed. As a trauma-informed confidence and relationship coach with over 13 years of experience, Tori now helps women heal, starting at their emotional, psychological, and spiritual roots. Tori supports women in rebuilding their self-worth, breaking unconscious or sabotaging patterns, and creating healthy, aligned relationships. Her work effectively focuses on guiding women through debilitating life changes, including divorce, breakups, and personal loss, to a place where they can create a life of love, confidence, and the success they long for.

Bunny Ambrosia is a true modern-day Wonder Woman whose life story reads like a wild country song full of resilience, grit, and a rebellious spirit. From a deeply challenging upbringing in the conservative South, through motherhood and widowhood at sixteen and surviving homelessness as a single mother, Bunny has transformed every adversity into fuel for her growth. She shares how her daughter became her greatest motivator, and how, step by step, she fought her way to stability, entrepreneurship, and a deeply-rooted mission to help others thrive.