VBB Episodes

Oct. 2, 2023

VBB 259: Juliane Bergmann On Parenting And The Illusion of Control!

Christopher and Heather welcome back ghostwriter and editor Juliane Bergmann, author of an influential article in Huffington Post titled "So I thought parents who forgot their kids in their cars were monsters. Then I did it!" It's an emotional, even...

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Sept. 25, 2023

VBB 258: David Jurasek On Building A Community Of Men Who Are Both Po…

David Jurasek is a father, husband, Sensei, and Registered Psychotherapist working with boys and men for over 20 years. He's worked within a clinical context, in a communal setting, and within various men's groups. However, despite his expertise and...

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Sept. 19, 2023

VBB 257: It All Changed For Women When Men Did This!

In this episode, Christopher & Heather continue our conversation around the book "The Creation of Patriarchy" by Gerder Lerner. Her groundbreaking work peals back history to see the origins and evolution of patriarchal systems. We lament how a...

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Sept. 12, 2023

VBB 256: Patriarchy & Women’s Sexuality; How One Was Used To Engender…

Patriarchy has never been a secret; it's in our faces from birth to death. Maybe that's why we don't talk about it. Most men hear the word Patriarchy and associate it with women's liberation or feminism and summarily dismiss it …

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Sept. 4, 2023

VBB 255: Christopher & Heather — How Victimhood Hinders Women & Perso…

Is it true? It is literally impossible to be a woman. Are you beautiful and smart but still think you're not good enough? Do you need to be extraordinary but still feel you're doing it all wrong? Is staying young, …

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Aug. 28, 2023

VBB 254: Kathy Caprino — A Woman’s Journey From Victim To Personal Em…

Kathy Caprino is no movie critic, but her critique of the Barbie movie and the power of the patriarchy inspired us to search her out. We found someone who was once a corporate executive, but even with career success, she …

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Aug. 21, 2023

VBB 253: If Bad Boys Are The Patriarchy, What Do Women Want With Them?

We have no reason to be obsessed with Barbie, but since seeing the movie, we’ve been finding deeper and deeper messages between the lines. The latest is good boys vs bad boys. Is there a lesson to be learned from …

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Aug. 14, 2023

VBB 252: How The Barbie Movie Is A Litmus Test For Worthy Men!

How might your partner, or potential future partner, react if you asked him to see the Barbie movie with you? Since the movie's debut, women have used the "Barbie ask" as a litmus test for evaluating compatible partners. A Yes …

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Aug. 6, 2023

VBB 251: What Barbie Is Really Saying To Women & Girls!

“It is literally impossible to be a woman.” So begins the monologue that breaks the women of Barbieland out of their patriarchal trance and back into power over a world they created. That dialogue reminds Christopher and Heather of why …

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July 31, 2023

VBB 250: Jess Weiner — The Woman Who Gave Barbie A Makeover!

She didn't create Barbie but was hired to help revive and diversify the image of the world's most iconic toy. Long before the blockbuster movie, VBB welcomed cultural expert Jess Weiner to take us on tour through the boardrooms of …

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July 17, 2023

VBB 249: Dana Killion — What A Woman Will Do For His Love!

Dana Killion is an accomplished author and a skilled storyteller known for her captivating mystery novels, but in her powerful debut memoir, Where the Shadows Dance, is where she lays bare the slow drip of the trauma she fought through …

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July 10, 2023

VBB 226: Gina Cloud — A Strong Definition of W.O.M.A.N!

Gina Cloud is a deeply devoted teacher, author, speaker, and advocate of all things women. Gina is a rebel and a revolutionary determined to free women from the societal, biological, and personal prisons they have endured for millennia. Using her...

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July 3, 2023

VBB 248: Nichole Crawford — What A War Veteran Suffering PTSD & MST C…

Nichole Crawford is a U.S. Army veteran with combat service in Iraq post-9/11. Like many veterans, Nichole believed that coming home not wearing a body bag or suffering a debilitating injury made her one of the lucky ones. War was …

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June 26, 2023

VBB 247: Kate Brookes — When My Son Gideon Became My Daughter Gabriel…

Kate Brookes (a.k.a. Transister Mom) is an award-winning TV reporter/anchor turned producer/filmmaker who, as field produced for The Discovery Channel, has interviewed celebrities like Beyonce to Barbara Walters. She's written for Today.com, and...

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June 12, 2023

VBB 246: Laurin Mayeno — This Is Blatant Discrimination Under The Gui…

Laurin Mayeno wrote a children's book to help nonbinary children like her own escape the loneliness, isolation, and mistreatment she felt as a minority. Shortly after the book's release, it was banned in schools for being age-appropriate. Laurin's question is …

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June 5, 2023

VBB 245: Juliane Bergmann — Who Are We When We’re Not Trying To Impre…

Juliane Bergmann's credentials are impressive. She's a technical writer, book coach, ghostwriter, and editor. However, Juliane also has a common issue that most adults face: an identity crisis that began in childhood.

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May 29, 2023

VBB 244: Rev. Stephanie Clark — A Spirited Conversation for Women Reb…

Stephanie Clarke is a most amazing woman. Her fiery red hair is a hint to her temperament as a speaker, facilitator, author, sacred ceremony hostess, Law of Attraction life coach, and a spiritual leader self-ordained as the Irreverent Reverend. As …

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May 21, 2023

VBB 243: Lee Wind — What Defines Motherhood When Both Parents Are Gay…

Lee Wind (he/him) is an Author and the Founder of the award-winning Blog I'M HERE. I'M QUEER. WHAT THE HELL DO I READ? Lee's Blog has over 3 million page loads from over 100 countries! Lee holds a master's degree …

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May 8, 2023

VBB 242: Maria Rothenburger — How Infertility Made Her A Better Mothe…

Dr. Maria Rothenburger is a fertility therapist and coach who has been through the harrowing journey of infertility. For over six years, Maria and her husband tried in vein to start a family but it only brought depression, anxiety, and …

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April 30, 2023

VBB 241: Katie Nave — The Gritty, Down-and-Dirty Job of Parenting!

Katie Nave is a freelance writer; she's penned articles for Newsweek, Huffington Post, and other top-notch publications. She works at being effective as a mental health advocate; she's a successful professional pediatrician in one of the world's...

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April 23, 2023

VBB 240: Melissa Leon - Small Business Owners Meet Your Maker, The Ef…

Melissa Leon is a 20-year corporate finance professional, small business owner, bestselling author, mother of three, and the self-proclaimed Efficiency Bitch. Melissa uses the word B.I.T.C.H. as an acronym to define the five areas she focuses on for...

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April 16, 2023

VBB 239: Alexandra Mislin - 5 Tips For Women Negotiating Higher Salar…

Alexandra Mislin is passionate about educating others on how to analyze human behavior to motivate others to act in their interest. Currently, she’s an Associate Professor at American University's Kogod School of Business and teaches various courses...

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April 9, 2023

VBB 238: Mariska Reinerink - Redefining The Relationship Women Have W…

Women face a unique set of financial challenges. Women have more hidden costs in their daily lives, like the pink tax, and the potential for more financial setbacks in the future, including the gender pay gap. Around the globe, women …

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April 3, 2023

VBB 237: Jessie Susannah Karnatz aka The Money Witch - Healing Your R…

Are you the master of your money, or is money the master of you? April is Financial Literacy Month — at VBB it's Women & Money Month. We could talk about the six components of financial literacy — earning, spending, …

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