What if the Real Housewives franchises have been misunderstood all along? What if the TV shows so often deemed cage matches between wealthy, privileged women from cities across the globe are actually venues for midlife women to explore their identities, make lasting friendships and be unapologetically themselves? That’s the takeaway for Laura Hensley, author of the Bravo-loving Substack That’s My Opinion. She joins editor-in-chief (and reality-TV hater) Maureen Halushak for Episode 4 of Group Chat to talk all things Housewives—and maybe even convert Maureen into a Housewives lover by the end of their conversation.

Also in this episode: executive editor Erica Lenti and senior editor Andréanne Dion talk about their earliest reality-TV memories and why Mormon wives seem to be taking over our screens.

Group Chat is new biweekly podcast that gets up close and personal with the editors of Chatelaine—and some very special guests.

Each episode, hosted by editor-in-chief Maureen Halushak, will explore one of the many topics, big and small, that matter to Canadian women—from menopause to weight bias to reality tv.

You can watch the podcast on Chatelaine’s YouTube channel or listen wherever you find your podcasts.

Thank you to our official furniture partner IKEA Canada.

Featuring:

• Maureen Halushak @maureenhalushak
• Chantal Braganza @cbraganz
• Sun Ngo @sunngo.studio
• Christine Flynn @christineanneflynn

Production:

• Maureen Halushak: Producer
• Erica Lenti: Producer
• Ryan Carter: Director / Editor
• Natasha Zoccoli: Editor / Camera Operator
• Corey Misquita: Director of Photography / Motion Graphic Designer / Camera Operator
• Masnoon Zarif: Camera Operator / Gaffer

Furniture partner: IKEA Canada

How do you get the vibe right at a dinner party? For bestselling cookbook author Christine Flynn, it’s pretty simple: “I am the vibe,” she jokes in Episode 3 of Group Chat. Flynn—a recipe developer, restaurant veteran and regular Chatelaine contributor—joins editor-in-chief Maureen Halushak to discuss her longstanding career in food, how she entertains and just how important food is at your dinner party. (Flynn’s new cookbook, Easy Does It, is out now, and you can preview some of her recipes in our Spring 2026 issue.)

Also in this episode: Maureen, deputy food editor Chantal Braganza and creative director Sun Ngo talk entertaining styles, disaster dinner parties—and how to get people to leave at the end of the night.

Group Chat is new biweekly podcast that gets up close and personal with the editors of Chatelaine—and some very special guests.

Each episode, hosted by editor-in-chief Maureen Halushak, will explore one of the many topics, big and small, that matter to Canadian women—from menopause to weight bias to reality tv.

You can watch the podcast on Chatelaine’s YouTube channel or listen wherever you find your podcasts.

Thank you to our official furniture partner IKEA Canada.

Featuring:

• Maureen Halushak @maureenhalushak
• Chantal Braganza @cbraganz
• Sun Ngo @sunngo.studio
• Christine Flynn @christineanneflynn

Production:

• Maureen Halushak: Producer
• Erica Lenti: Producer
• Ryan Carter: Director / Editor
• Natasha Zoccoli: Editor / Camera Operator
• Corey Misquita: Director of Photography / Motion Graphic Designer / Camera Operator
• Masnoon Zarif: Camera Operator / Gaffer

Furniture partner: IKEA Canada

In Episode 2 of Group Chat, Alexandra Gater—home decor superstar and Spring 2026 guest editor of Chatelaine—joins editor-in-chief Maureen Halushak to talk all things interior design, from her early days as the Chatelaine home editor to her wildly successful DIY makeover series on YouTube.

Also in this episode, executive editor Erica Lenti and senior style editor Andréanne Dion join the chat to discuss their earliest decor memories (and regrets) and how to navigate decorating a shared space with a partner.

Group Chat is new biweekly podcast that gets up close and personal with the editors of Chatelaine—and some very special guests. Each episode, hosted by editor-in-chief Maureen Halushak, will explore one of the many topics, big and small, that matter to Canadian women—from menopause to weight bias to reality tv.

Featuring:

• Maureen Halushak @maureenhalushak
• Andréanne Dion @andreannewrites
• Erica Lenti @ericalenti
• Alexandra Gater @alexandragater

Production:

• Maureen Halushak: Producer
• Erica Lenti: Producer
• Ryan Carter: Director / Editor
• Natasha Zoccoli: Editor / Camera Operator
• Corey Misquita: Director of Photography / Motion Graphic Designer / Camera Operator
• Masnoon Zarif: Camera Operator / Gaffer

Furniture partner: IKEA Canada