What started as two friends stepping outside their comfort zones unexpectedly became a podcast. Big Girls Don’t Cry is hosted by Georgie and Shan, two South African friends who believe that everyone has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations, we explore resilience, reinvention, heartbreak, courage, laughter, and the moments that shape us. Life is rarely a straight line. Join us as we uncover the stories that connect us, challenge us, and remind us of one simple truth: To be human is to have a story.
SAMANTHA YANKS
Editor-in-Chief · Co-Founder, The Connecticut Edit · Creative Strategist
Samantha Yanks has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of editorial, fashion, luxury, branding and storytelling.
Her career has included American Vogue, where she became the first fine jewelry and watch editor; work with Oprah Winfrey, including helping launch the O List; and more than a decade with Niche Media/Modern Luxury, where she rose from fashion director to Editor-in-Chief of Hamptons and Gotham.
After leaving traditional magazine leadership, Samantha launched Samantha Yanks Creative.
But the next real reinvention arrived closer to home.
Samantha and her daughter Sadie couldn’t find local Connecticut coverage that reflected the world they were interested in — so they created it themselves.
The Connecticut Edit was born.
Today Samantha is also Editor-in-Chief of Westport, Weston & Wilton Magazine and works across television, content, branding and community-building. Her BGDC materials also reference her monthly work with NBC Connecticut.
FIND SAMANTHA:
Samantha Yanks
samanthayanks.com (https://www.samanthayanks.com/)
The Connecticut Edit
theconnecticutedit.com (https://www.theconnecticutedit.com/)
About Samantha + The Connecticut Edit
Meet the team (https://www.theconnecticutedit.com/about-us)
Instagram — The Connecticut Edit
@theconnecticutedit (https://www.instagram.com/theconnecticutedit/)
21 Oct 2026
The Parts We Hide with Kaitlyn Lynch
Kaitlyn Lynch is a licensed psychotherapist and the founder of Coalesce & Co., where her work focuses on anxiety, trauma, maternal mental health and the transitions that rearrange a life.
She is also the author of The Calm Mama Workbook, a practical toolkit designed to help mothers move through overwhelm with greater presence, confidence and intention.
Her conversation Georgie and Shan explores anxiety, depression and trauma; motherhood and identity; matrescence; EMDR and Internal Family Systems; and the idea that meaningful change can begin with incredibly small experiments.
Kaitlyn’s underlying philosophy is beautifully simple:
Understand first. Change second.
Coalesce & Co.Website: coalesceandco.com (https://www.coalesceandco.com/)
Instagram: @coalesceandco (https://www.instagram.com/coalesceandco/)
The Calm Mama Workbook Details:
A therapist-guided workbook exploring thoughts, emotions, values and identity shifts in motherhood through CBT, mindfulness and values-based tools: Explore The Calm Mama (https://www.coalesceandco.com/)
Purchase: The Calm Mama Workbook on Amazon (https://a.co/d/0gYAx2vo)
Free Calm Mama 6-Step Reset For clinicians:
A free, therapist-created 10-minute reset designed to help mothers reconnect with themselves: Explore Calm Mama resources (https://www.coalesceandco.com/calm-collective)
Kaitlyn also offers resources for clinicians interested in bringing Calm Mama into their practices: Explore Coalesce & Co. clinician resources (https://www.coalesceandco.com/)
OFFER FOR BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY PODCAST LISTENERS:
For Therapists: Complimentary 30-Minute Maternal Mental Health Group Strategy Session
For Moms: Complimentary 30-Minute Calm Mama Strategy Session
To activate send a request to her contact us page: https://www.coalesceandco.com/contact
14 Oct 2026
The Stories That Keep Us Stuck with Joy Poole
After two decades in high-level corporate leadership, Joy Poole began questioning a definition of success built around achievement, progression, recognition and bigger titles.
An experience with an executive coach helped change the trajectory. Then, during COVID, Joy resurfaced a childhood dream her husband David had once shared with her:
What ever happened to sailing around the world?
Six weeks later, they were staring at a quote for a boat.
In December 2024, Joy, David and their son set sail on an 18-month voyage around the world.
Joy’s conversation with Shan and Georgie is ultimately less about sailing than it is about self-leadership, values, fear, self-trust and choosing a life that feels aligned.
Links and Resources:
Joy Poole Website: joypoole.com (https://www.joypoole.com/)
Instagram: @joypooleleadership (https://www.instagram.com/joypooleleadership/)
LinkedIn: Joy Poole (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joypoole/)
Coaching: Explore Joy’s coaching (https://www.joypoole.com/coaching)
Speaking: Explore Joy Poole (https://www.joypoole.com/)
OFFER FOR BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY PODCAST LISTENERS:
Free Next Chapter Clarity Call plus 20% off her Progress with Purpose program.
Access the offer here: joypoole.com/biggirls (https://www.joypoole.com/biggirls)
7 Oct 2026
When the Plan Falls Apart with Johno Meintjes
Johno Meintjes’ story is one of building, losing and rebuilding. After a career in elite sports conditioning — including work across cricket, field hockey and South African rugby — Johno moved into entrepreneurship and built JEFF Fitness, a remote fitness business that grew rapidly during the pandemic.
After the breakdown of that business and a painful separation from an investor/partner, Johno started again. He self-funded The Daily J, building a new wellness community around movement, nutrition, wellbeing and connection.
His conversation with Georgie and Shan explores what happens when the company you built is taken away, the grief that follows, what betrayal teaches you about trust and governance, and how to rebuild without simply recreating what existed before.
Links and Resources:
The Daily J Website: dailyj.co.za (https://dailyj.co.za/)
Meet Johno + The Daily J team: Meet the Daily J Team (https://dailyj.co.za/meet-the-daily-j-team/)
Instagram: @johnomeintjes (https://www.instagram.com/johnomeintjes/) and @dailyj_fitness (https://www.instagram.com/dailyj_fitness/)
OFFER FOR BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY PODCAST LISTENERS
Johno is offering our listeners 50% off his membership to the Daily J, access the link here for the offer: 50% off DailyJ (https://paystack.shop/pay/jwk29tvwga)
30 Sept 2026
So… What Now?
After a season spent talking about resilience, we realized there was another question waiting for us: what happens after you’ve made it through?
In the opening episode of Season Two, Reinvention, we turn the microphones on ourselves. We talk about the versions of us we’ve outgrown, the identities we’ve held onto, the things we’re still figuring out — and what it really looks like to begin again when you don’t have the whole plan mapped out.
We also share something new that has grown from this little podcast and the incredible community around it: the Big Girls Don’t Cry Podcast Club. A place to take the conversations beyond the episode, with reflections, tools and resources designed to help you explore your own story — starting with our free Embers worksheets, and The Rekindle Guided Journal coming soon!
Because maybe reinvention isn’t about becoming someone completely new.
Maybe it’s about asking yourself, honestly…
So, what now?
21 Jul 2026
Unlearning Resilience with Natasha Dehesh
Natasha Dehesh joins Georgie and Shan to reframe resilience: how strength can become armor, why softness is its own power, and what it looks like to raise grounded kids in a very different world. Tender, practical, and refreshingly honest — this episode offers simple daily practices for nervous-system regulation, real talk about parenting without guilt, and a new way to move from surviving to designing a meaningful life. Tune in for warmth, clarity, and actionable takeaways.
Links and Resources:
Website: natashadehesh.com (https://natashadehesh.com/)
IG: @natasha.dehesh
Elizabeth Gilbert — TED talk “Your Elusive Creative Genius”: www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius
Glucose Goddess IG: @glucosegoddess website glucose goddess.com
14 Jul 2026
Finding Grace in the Hard with Rhodie Lorenz
Rhodie Lorenz knows that life rarely unfolds the way we imagine. In this deeply honest conversation, she shares how navigating unexpected change and uncertainty has shaped her perspective on resilience, gratitude, and what it truly means to keep moving forward.
Contact Rhodie:
Website: https://rhodielorenz.com (https://rhodielorenz.com/)
IG: @rhodielorenz
Links and Resources:
- Song by David Guetta & Sia: Titanium
- The Artist’s Way — Julia Cameron: https://juliacameronlive.com/the-artists-way
- Lotus and the Mud — by Elisabeth Schilling: The "lotus and the mud" is a profound Buddhist metaphor signifying that personal awakening, peace, and beauty cannot exist without struggle. The phrase "lotus in the mud" represents the human capacity to rise above adversity and achieve spiritual enlightenment, mental clarity, or personal growth. It symbolizes resilience—showing that beauty, wisdom, and strength can emerge from the darkest and messiest parts of life
https://feminismandreligion.com/2016/11/08/lotus-in-the-mud-a-metaphor-for-humanity-on-our-darkest-days-by-lachelle-schilling.
7 Jul 2026
Marni Lane: Resilience, Advocacy & the Beauty of the Pivot
Marni Lane shares her journey from breaking news to Olympic storytelling, motherhood, and the heartbreaking loss of her firstborn after a heart transplant. With honesty, warmth, and wisdom, she reflects on how grief shaped her, why advocacy matters, and how moving forward doesn’t mean leaving love behind.
Resources and links:
Rowboat: First You Have To Row A Little Boat (https://www.amazon.com/first-you-have-row-little-boat/s?k=first+you+have+to+row+a+little+boat) - Richard Bode
Howard Stern: https://www.howardstern.com
Contact Marni Lane:
LinkedIn:marni-harriman-lane (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marni-harriman-lane-41a7819/)
IG: @kriskeylane
1 Jul 2026
Wall Street to Wellness with Lynn Mull
Episode 2 featuring Lynn Mull
What happens when success no longer feels aligned with who you’re becoming?
Lynn Mull shares her journey from Wall Street to Wellness, exploring resilience, reinvention, and the courage to trust a new path.
A powerful conversation about change, growth, and finding alignment.
Big Girls Don’t Cry - because to be human is to have a story.
Show note links and resources:
Website: https://www.lynnmull.com (https://www.lynnmull.com/)
IG: @_lynnmull/
Resources:
IFS Institute: https://ifs-institute.com/ (https://ifs-institute.com/) and Book: No Bad Parts, Author: Richard Schwartz: https://ifs-institute.com/nobadparts (https://ifs-institute.com/nobadparts)
Ina Garten — Barefoot Contessa: https://barefootcontessa.com
Byron Katie — The Work: https://thework.com
Brené Brown — official site / books: https://brenebrown.com
Shonda Rhimes — The Year of Yes: https://www.shondaland.com/shonda/year-of-yes
Songs:
Baby Steps by Olivia Dean
Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson
29 Jun 2026
Our Story
What started as two friends stepping outside their comfort zones unexpectedly became a podcast. Big Girls Don’t Cry is hosted by Georgie and Shan, two South African friends who believe that everyone has a story worth telling.
Through honest conversations with people from all walks of life, we explore resilience, reinvention, heartbreak, courage, laughter, and the moments that change us. Some stories are extraordinary. Most are beautifully ordinary. All of them remind us that life is rarely a straight line. So whether you’re navigating a challenge of your own or simply curious about the human experience, pull up a chair and join us.
Because to be human is to have a story.
Show notes and resources:
Media and Branding Services:
https://www.zwaanz.com/solutions (https://www.zwaanz.com/solutions/)
https://switchonmymedia.com (https://switchonmymedia.com/)
BGDC host photos by:
https://privateportraits.com (https://privateportraits.com/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Contact Big Girls Don't Cry Podcast
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