As the Winter Olympics unfold and headlines remind us how fragile even the strongest bodies can be—most recently with Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn suffering a devastating injury—this conversation couldn't be more timely.

In this powerful episode of the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast, co-hosts Shawna Kaminski and Alli Kerr sit down with two-time Olympic medalist and U.S. Ski Team veteran Shannon Bahrke Happe to explore what it really takes to compete at the highest level—and to come back when everything feels uncertain.

Shannon competed in Olympic moguls skiing, one of the most physically and mentally demanding events in the Winter Games—where athletes race down a steep, bumpy course at high speed while performing aerial jumps. The constant impact, fear management, and precision required make mental toughness and injury resilience essential to success.

The conversation takes a deep dive into Olympic injuries, the emotional devastation they bring, and the mental battle athletes face when wondering: Is this a short-term setback—or a career-ending injury? Shannon opens up about how returning after injury was far more difficult mentally and emotionally than physically.

To rebuild confidence and compete at an Olympic level, Shannon immersed herself in sports psychology, working with experts to develop the mental tools she still relies on today:
• Positive self-talk (including literally talking to herself in the mirror)
• Visualization
• Meditation and mental focus

These practices aren't just for elite athletes. Shannon explains how they translate into motherhood, entrepreneurship, leadership, public speaking, and navigating hard seasons of life—helping us all build "sturdier legs to stand on" as we age and evolve.

She also reflects on the highs and lows of Olympic competition, what it truly feels like to stand on the podium, and how she successfully transitioned from Olympian to "real life"—becoming a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame inductee, mother of two, keynote speaker, and CEO of Team Empower Hour and Champions Advantage.

This episode offers timely insight for anyone watching the Winter Olympics, following stories of athlete injury and recovery, or looking for real-world tools to build resilience, confidence, and mental toughness—on and off the slopes.

🎧 A must-listen Winter Olympics episode on injuries, recovery, mental strength, and healthy aging.

Shannon Bahrke Happe

2 X Olympic Medalist, CEO

TEDx Speaker, Cert. Mindset Coach

E mogulmama@mac.com

W ChampionsAdvantage.com

W ShannonBahrke.com

W TeamEmpowerHour.com

_______________________________________________________________________

*Subscribe, Share, & Rate our Show. And follow us on social media:**

📷 Instagram: @GirlsTalkHealthyAging

Facebook Group: Girls Talk Healthy Aging: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030

🌐 Website: GirlsTalkHealthyAging.com

📧 Email: sapodcast23@gmail.com

Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski

Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://shawnakworkouts.com

Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).

Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online here: https://www.thepinkphysique.com

Aging well isn't just about fitness and nutrition—it's also about connection, community, and how we live. In this episode of the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast, hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski explore how community living and shared housing models can improve health, reduce loneliness, support longevity, and create financial security for women at every stage of life.

What if aging well didn't mean aging alone—or broke?

We're joined by Janice Rivera, a bold, creative, and adventurous woman who is reimagining what life can look like for women as they age. Combining her expertise as an interior designer and real estate agent, Janice created a spa-like co-living home for women—a modern, elevated approach to shared living that prioritizes affordability, safety, connection, and well-being.

This conversation matters. Loneliness and social isolation don't just affect our happiness—they impact our health and longevity. Research shows chronic loneliness can reduce lifespan by up to 15 years, and for older women, the mortality risk is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Community isn't a "nice to have"—it's a health intervention.

Think Golden Girls x 2, but leveled up.

Janice lives in the home alongside seven women who rent private rooms, share expenses, and build meaningful, long-term relationships. The result is lower housing costs, reduced loneliness, increased safety, and a beautiful environment that feels like a retreat—not a compromise. Everyone wins: the women gain affordable, supportive housing, and Janice enjoys a free place to live, additional income, and deep community.

Whether you're partnered, single by choice, divorced, widowed, or simply planning ahead, this episode introduces a rapidly growing housing model many women don't know about—but should.

Tune in to learn:

• How co-living actually works

• Why this model supports both health and wealth

• What to consider if you're interested in living this way—or creating your own

• Why community may be one of the most powerful tools for healthy aging

This conversation may change how you think about home, independence, and what's possible as we age—together. 💗

Follow Janice on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehomestylistgreenville/

_______________________________________________________________________

*Subscribe, Share, & Rate our Show. And follow us on social media:**

📷 Instagram: @GirlsTalkHealthyAging

Facebook Group: Girls Talk Healthy Aging: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030

🌐 Website: GirlsTalkHealthyAging.com

📧 Email: sapodcast23@gmail.com

Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski

Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://shawnakworkouts.com

Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).

Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online here: https://www.thepinkphysique.com

In this timely and eye-opening episode of the Girls Talk Healthy Aging Podcast, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski break down the new Nutrition Guidelines for Americans and the new Inverted Food Pyramid released under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services—and what they actually mean for women who want to age well.

With headlines and social media buzzing, it's hard to know what's fact, what's fear-based, and what's been taken out of context. That's where this episode comes in. Alli Kerr—fitness expert and holder of a Master's in Public Administration—uses her background in public policy and government administration to explain how nutrition guidelines are created, how they evolve, and what has truly changed versus what remains the same.

Together, Shawna and Alli compare the former MyPlate guidelines with the new federal recommendations, including updated guidance around saturated fats, helping listeners cut through the noise and understand the science and policy behind the shifts. You may be surprised by how much hasn't changed—despite what the headlines suggest.

The conversation also dives into healthy aging for women, with Shawna highlighting where fiber fits into the nutrition equation, why it matters as we age, and how women can apply these guidelines in real life without overwhelm.

If you've been confused, curious, or even skeptical about the new U.S. food guidelines, this episode will leave you informed, empowered, and grounded in facts—not trends.

🎧 Tune in to learn:

• How U.S. nutrition guidelines are developed and implemented
• The key differences between MyPlate and the new Inverted Food Pyramid
• What the updated guidance on saturated fats really says
• Why social media headlines may be misleading
• How fiber supports healthy aging in women

This is a must-listen episode for women who want clarity, confidence, and evidence-based guidance on their healthy aging journey.

Links form this Episode:

My Plate Graphic & 1 Page Description

My Plate Lesson Plans and Videos

Guidelines For Americans 2020-2025

Guidelines For Americans 2026-2030

*Note that the information on these web links is changing as we speak. Some has changed since we recorded this episode 1 week ago when we showed these same links. All of the My Plate information is being updated to the Inverted Pyramid on govenrment sites. We are not sure how the old data will be maintained or where. We have no idea how long there will be information available to learn about My Plate and the differences vs the new Guidelines. The new 2026 guidelines page has had new resources added since this recording.

*Subscribe, Share, & Rate our Show. And follow us on social media:**

📷 Instagram: @GirlsTalkHealthyAging

Facebook Group: Girls Talk Healthy Aging: https://www.facebook.com/groups/330434366004030

🌐 Website: GirlsTalkHealthyAging.com

📧 Email: sapodcast23@gmail.com

Follow & Message Shawna on Instagram: @shawnakaminski

Grab Shawna's book 'Lose Your Menopause Belly' and other freebies here: https://shawnakworkouts.com

Follow & Message Alli on Facebook & Instagram: Alli Kerr and @allikerrfitness (respectively).

Train with Alli at The Pink Physique in person in Macon, Georgia or Online here: https://www.thepinkphysique.com