In this episode, we look back at the legendary high school graduation traditions: Paula in 1989 and Karen in 1991.

Plus, we are paying tribute to the cutting-edge, beautifully androgynous vibe of the iconic Sassy magazine launched in 1988, and how it broke the mold for teen fashion.

Finally, stick around for all of the hair tools for those great styles! And note, these are returning. Of course they are! We were great at the hair game!

Want us to take a look at your GenX graduation year? What memories do you have and what do you want us to cover?

Listen to Episode 10 now on your favorite platform!

🎧 Spotify

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 iHeartRadio

🎧 Amazon Music

📺 YouTube

🎵 Deezer

What happens when you’re exhausted, you’re not sleeping, your body feels unfamiliar, and nobody has mentioned perimenopause?

In this special episode in honor of World Menopause Day of Hose Water, Hot Flashes, and Bad Decisions, Paula and Karen get personal about the changes they didn’t see coming and the conversations they wish had happened sooner. From mood shifts and sleepless nights to changing body shape and unexpected food reactions, they share what it felt like to search for answers while trying to get through everyday life.

Karen talks about the conversation that helped her recognize perimenopause, while Paula reflects on an appointment where depression was discussed but perimenopause wasn’t. Together, they explore the frustration of hearing “that’s normal” when you still don’t feel like yourself, the value of tracking what’s happening, and why it can be so hard to tell the whole story once you’re sitting in the exam room.

Of course, there’s humor. Because sometimes you need to laugh with someone who understands why you’re throwing off the blankets one minute and reaching for them the next.

This is an honest conversation about their personal experiences, the questions they’re still asking, and making room for women to talk openly about midlife.

What do you wish someone had told you about perimenopause? Share it in the comments, and send this episode to a friend who might recognize her own experience.

Subscribe for more conversations with Paula and Karen. New episodes every Thursday.

This episode shares personal experiences and is for general information, not individual medical advice.

Also, join us for our 90-minute, one-night-only Decompress Before the Holiday Stress Event. Learn more: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/decompress-before-the-holiday-stress-live-group-coaching-session-tickets-2002951520917?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

#WorldMenopauseDay #Perimenopause #Menopause #MidlifeWomen #HoseWaterHotFlashesAndBadDecisions #GenX #Millenial

What do Barbie, the corporate ladder, and that persistent voice telling us we’re not good enough have in common? They all have a place in this conversation.

In Episode 8 of Hose Water, Hot Flashes, and Bad Decisions, Paula and Karen welcome Krizel Rodriguez for an honest discussion about identity, representation, and the messages women carry from childhood into adulthood. From growing up with dolls that didn’t look like us to questioning our abilities in the workplace, we explore how those experiences can shape what we believe is possible.

Krizel shares what discovering a Mexican Barbie meant to her, why Latina representation in leadership matters personally, and her hopes for the next generation. We also talk about the self-doubt that can follow women into rooms they’ve earned the right to be in, even when their accomplishments tell a different story.

There’s room for laughter, reflection, and a conversation about what connects us across different backgrounds and experiences. Because while our stories may differ, we have plenty of reasons to listen to one another and move forward together.

What message did you grow up hearing about who you could become, and have you rewritten it? Tell us in the comments.

Subscribe to Hose Water, Hot Flashes, and Bad Decisions with Paula & Karen. New episodes every Thursday!

#HoseWaterHotFlashesAndBadDecisions #GenX #WomenSupportingWomen #SelfDoubt #RepresentationMatters #WomenInLeadership #Barbie #Podcast