Highly Flammable

About Highly Flammable

Highly Flammable is a podcast for women in midlife who feel the heat rising and know something is ready to change. Hosted by Gillian Christie Ninan, each episode features honest, funny, deeply human conversations about reinvention, identity, ambition, friendship, perimenopause, joy, and the question so many women are asking: What’s next? This is about choosing yourself, trusting what makes you feel alive, and stepping into your next chapter with more courage, clarity, and fire. New episodes every Tuesday. This isn’t a transition. It’s a takeover. Join the fire on IG: @gillianchristie

Publisher

Gillian Christie Ninan

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Mar 2026

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Courage Is a Choice: Reinvention, Discernment & Choosing Yourself with Wendy Battles

   What happens when you’ve spent years talking about reinvention — and suddenly you’re right in the middle of your own? Wendy Battles, host of Reinvention Rebels, joins me for a candid conversation about what it looks like to choose yourself in midlife, trust what you already know, and stop editing parts of who you are just to keep things comfortable. Wendy talks about how her understanding of reinvention has changed, why some realizations happen slowly, and what she’s learning about self-trust in this chapter of her life. We get into the difference between knowing something needs to change and being ready to act on it, why discernment doesn’t always require immediate action, and Wendy’s idea that courage can be a choice — not just something we summon when life forces our hand, but something we practice when we decide to move toward the life we want. We also talk about: the subtle ways we can start making ourselves smaller without realizing it choosing yourself without needing everyone else to understand rebuilding self-worth through surprisingly ordinary decisions why small acts of courage matter relationships, discernment, and becoming more honest about what fits what Wendy is officially done being sensible about finding delight even when the world feels noisy and uncertain This week’s question: Where could you choose courage on purpose — not because life is forcing you to, but because there’s something you want to move toward? 🔥 Permission, Out Loud — October 22 I’m hosting a one-hour live experience for women in midlife who are ready to stop talking themselves out of what they want. Spots are intentionally limited. Find the details and reserve your spot in the links below. Listen to Wendy: Reinvention Rebels — wherever you listen to podcasts. Want first dibs on things like Permission, Out Loud? Join the Highly Flammable VIP list for behind-the-scenes notes, what didn’t make the edit, and first access to events and workshops. 🔥 Permission, Out Loud: Grab your spot for Permission, Out Loud (https://stan.store/gillianchristieninan/p/permission-out-loud) 💌 Highly Flammable VIP: Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) 🎧 Reinvention Rebels: Listen to Wendy’s podcast (https://reinventionrebels.com/) 📸 Reinvention Rebels on Instagram: Follow Reinvention Rebels (https://www.instagram.com/reinventionrebels/) 📱 Instagram: Follow Gillian @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) This isn’t a transition. It’s a takeover.

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Tell on Yourself with Marhnelle Hibbard

   What happens when you stop trying to prove you belong and start trusting that who you are is enough? At 78, Marhnelle Hibbard has the kind of perspective that only comes from living through a lot of chapters: marriage, motherhood, business, reinvention, mistakes, success, and starting over more than once. In this episode, we talk about self-trust, long-term partnership, the stories we carry about success, what changes when you stop hiding parts of yourself, and why midlife can be such a powerful moment to ask what still fits and what doesn’t. There’s also a lot here about play, friendship, faith, courage, and the freedom that can come from finally being more fully yourself. ✨ Want a little more Highly Flammable between episodes? Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable)for behind-the-scenes thoughts, things that didn’t make the edit, and first access to what we’re building next. In this episode: How growing up in survival mode shaped Marhnelle’s independence What she learned about being strong without disappearing inside a relationship The beliefs she carried for years about being “qualified enough” Why self-acceptance changed the way she showed up in work and life How her definition of success has changed over time What she is discovering about friendship and play in this season of life The midlife questions she thinks more women should be asking themselves What courage looks like when you stop waiting to feel completely ready How faith has softened the way she sees herself and other people Why she keeps coming back to one simple question: why not? Follow Gillian and Highly Flammable: Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) ✨ Join the Highly Flammable VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable): Behind-the-scenes, off-cut conversations, and first access to events and whatever we light on fire next. If this episode made you think of a woman who needs to hear it, send it to her. And remember: it’s not a transition. It’s a takeover.

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Great Orgasms, Good Friends & an Early Bedtime

   What’s gotten unexpectedly better with age? At 49, Gillian is noticing that getting older isn’t making her less interested in life, it’s making her more selective about what actually feels good, matters, and lights her up. In this short solo episode, she talks about deep female friendships, early bedtimes, disco in the kitchen, heirloom beans, thrift-store art, and yes… some very good orgasms. It’s a funny, personal reflection on the little things that get better, the things that matter more, and the stuff you finally stop caring so much about. If your priorities have quietly changed, and you're liking the new version of yourself, this one’s for you. Join the Highly Flammable VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) for behind-the-scenes thoughts, off-cut topics, and first access to what Gillian is building next. Follow Gillian on Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/)

4. 

   15 Sept 2026

   What’s Worth My Time Now?

   At 49, I’m still ambitious. I still want big things. But lately I’ve been thinking a lot more about what actually deserves my time. Inspired by Four Thousand Weeks and a few uncomfortable realizations about my own relationship with success, I’m looking at the difference between ambition and proving, the things we think we’re supposed to want, and what happens when you finally start asking: Do I actually want this? This is a solo episode about ambition, motherhood, success, time and why I think midlife is making me much more selective about what gets the best of me. 🔥 Want more behind the scenes of Highly Flammable? Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) for extra thoughts, what’s happening behind the mic, and first access to what I’m building next. We get into what it means to want big things without wanting everything, why “not now” doesn’t always mean “no,” and a few of the very random ways I’m realizing I may still be following rules I don’t even believe in. And yes, somehow a Porsche makes its way into this conversation. 🎧 Listen now, and send this one to a friend who might also be asking herself: What’s actually worth my time now? 🔥 Join the Highly Flammable VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) for behind-the-scenes notes, new episodes, and first access to what’s coming next. Follow Highly Flammable: Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) Mentioned in this episode: Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman Disclaimer: Personal stories and opinions shared on Highly Flammable are not medical advice. Talk to your own provider about your individual health and medical needs.

5. 

   8 Sept 2026

   Pleasure Was My Way Back to Myself with Erin Keating

   Erin Keating didn’t build a life she secretly wanted to escape. She wanted the career, the marriage, the family, the successful grown-up life she had worked so hard to create. And then, somewhere along the way, being incredibly good at carrying all of it stopped being enough. This conversation is funny, candid, a little spicy, and much less about blowing up your life than it is about coming back into it as yourself. Want the behind-the-scenes version of Highly Flammable? Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) for new episodes, my thoughts after these conversations, and first access to everything I’m building. Erin and I talk about outgrowing a life you genuinely chose, why pleasure became a way back to herself, ambition, motherhood, body image, dating, emotional availability, and what it means to still wonder whether you’ve really gone for it. We also talk about why, after 135 episodes of Hotter Than Ever, Erin decided it was time to reinvent again and build Broad Collective. Connect with Erin Broad Collective: broadcollective.com (https://www.broadcollective.com/) Substack: broadcollective.substack.com (https://broadcollective.substack.com/) Stay Connected with Highly Flammable Make sure you’re following or subscribed to Highly Flammable so you don’t miss what’s next, and if you’ve been loving the show, leaving a rating or review helps more women find us. Join the Highly Flammable VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) for new episodes, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and first access to live workshops, events, and everything else we're building. If this episode made you think of a woman in your life, send it to her. ❤️🔥 This isn’t a transition. It’s a takeover. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and reflects the personal experiences and opinions of the host and guests. It is not intended as medical, mental health, legal, or financial advice.

6. 

   1 Sept 2026

   The Stories Women Aren’t Supposed to Tell with Lisa Jimenez

   Lisa Jimenez and Gillian met nearly twenty years ago, when both were living very different versions of their lives. This conversation is the first time they’ve really sat down and caught up in years and there was a lot of life to catch up on. After decades in corporate America, Lisa went on to create She Is Me Global, a community built around giving women space to tell their stories, be heard, and support one another. In this episode, Lisa shares how that work grew out of her own experiences, why women need spaces to gather outside of work and home, and what she has learned about creativity, perfectionism, joy, self-forgiveness, and saying no. They also talk about returning to parts of yourself you may have left behind and the things we can keep carrying long after we actually need them. Content note: This conversation includes discussion of domestic violence, abusive relationships, and growing up around alcoholism. We get into: Why women need a “third place” The connection between creativity and letting go of perfection Finding joy in ordinary things Anger, powerlessness, and self-forgiveness Returning to parts of yourself you left behind Saying no more often Creating the kind of community you wish already existed Connect with Lisa: She Is Me Global: Sheismeglobal.com (https://sheismeglobal.com/home-9578?variant=69db4d5da0633bb32161f4b6) Lisa’s book: The Woman the Water Made (https://sheismeglobal.com/product-details-3503/product/thewomanthatwatermade?variant=69db4d5da0633bb32161f4b6) Join the Highly Flammable VIP list: Get on the list babe! (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) Make sure you’re following or subscribed to Highly Flammable so you don’t miss what’s next, and if you’ve been loving the show, leaving a rating or review helps more women find us. Highly Flammable is rooted in personal stories and lived experiences. Nothing in this episode is medical advice. Please talk with your own doctor, therapist, or qualified provider about what’s right for your body, your health, and your life.

7. 

   25 Aug 2026

   Nobody Saw the Years It Took with Gen Yanulavich

   We see who a woman is now. The career. The confidence. The family. The life that looks settled. What we don’t always see are the years it took to get there. Join the Highly Flammable VIP List Want the behind-the-scenes notes, first access to live workshops and events, and more of what we’re building around Highly Flammable? Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) In this episode of Highly Flammable, Gillian sits down with her cousin Gen Yanulavich as she approaches 50 and looks back at the pieces of a life that didn’t always make sense while she was living them. Gen talks about becoming a mother young, building a career while raising her family, navigating a relationship that slowly wore her down, and the moment she realized something in her life had to change. She also opens up about the years behind the success people see today—the financial stress, the uncertainty, and the private moments when she wondered how her life was going to turn out. Now, with grown children, grandbabies, a career she’s proud of, and a marriage that feels completely different, Gen has enough distance to look back with a perspective she didn’t have while she was in the middle of it. This conversation is about the wisdom that can come with midlife: connecting some of the pieces, making peace with the versions of yourself that came before, and realizing you don’t have to have everything figured out for your life to still be moving somewhere good. In this episode: Approaching 50 and seeing age differently than we once did Becoming a mother young and taking a very different path than the one she expected Building a career while raising a family Recognizing when a relationship was taking more from her than she realized Making the decision that something had to change Discovering what a calmer kind of love can feel like The invisible years behind visible success Financial uncertainty and the pressure of building a life without knowing how it would turn out Looking back without wishing away the past What her children and grandchildren get from the woman she became Growing up alongside your child The perspective midlife can give us on earlier seasons of our lives Learning to make yourself a priority, even when you’re used to taking care of everyone else If this episode made you think of another woman, send it to her. Stay connected Join the Highly Flammable VIP list for behind-the-scenes notes, first access to live workshops and events, and what we’re building next. Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) Follow Gillian on Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) And if you’re enjoying Highly Flammable, follow or subscribe wherever you listen and leave a rating or review to help more women find the show. Highly Flammable shares personal stories and lived experiences. Nothing in this episode is intended as medical, mental health, legal, or financial advice.

8. 

   18 Aug 2026

   You Will Feel Uprooted with Alison Ritchie

   What if feeling uprooted in midlife doesn’t mean something has gone wrong? In this episode of Highly Flammable, Gillian sits down with Alison Ritchie, a Traditional Birth Keeper, Postpartum Wellness Practitioner, and herbalist specializing in women’s health, for a conversation about the strange in-between season so many women find themselves in during midlife. Join the Highly Flammable VIP list: Join the VIP List (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) Get behind-the-scenes notes from Gillian plus first access to future workshops, events, and everything we’re building around the Highly Flammable community. Alison describes midlife as a season of shedding — a time when the version of ourselves that spent years holding everything together may no longer fit, but the woman we’re becoming hasn’t fully arrived yet. In this conversation, Alison and Gillian talk about the pressure women feel to keep performing and producing, why this season can feel so disorienting, the grief that can come with changing identities, and what happens when we finally start asking what — and who — actually gets to come with us into the second half of our lives. The conversation also explores reclaiming self-trust, learning to listen to yourself again, and how anger can sometimes become the energy that helps us restructure a life that has been working for everyone except ourselves. In this episode: • Why midlife can feel like being uprooted • The seasons of shedding and letting go • What happens after years of holding everything down • Grief, anger, and allowing the full range of our emotions • Reclaiming self-trust and personal authority • Learning to listen to yourself again • Why feeling uprooted doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong • Making room for the woman you’re becoming Connect with Alison: Website: https://www.alisonritchie.com (https://www.alisonritchie.com) Instagram: @this_grand_voyage_ (https://www.instagram.com/this_grand_voyage_/) Stay connected with Gillian and Highly Flammable: Follow Gillian on Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) Join the Highly Flammable VIP list: Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) Get behind-the-scenes notes plus first access to live workshops, events, and future community offerings. If this conversation made you think of another woman somewhere in her own messy middle, send it to her. And if you’re loving Highly Flammable, follow the show, subscribe, and leave a review. It helps more women find these conversations. Disclaimer: Highly Flammable is rooted in personal stories and lived experiences. Nothing in this episode is medical advice. Please talk with your own doctor, therapist, or qualified provider about what's right for your body, your health, and your life.

9. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Main Character Moves with Lisa Topoleski

   At 55, Lisa Topoleski decided to step onto a bodybuilding stage in a bikini, not because she needed to reinvent herself, but because she wanted a new challenge. Lisa is a longtime teacher, yoga instructor, runner, lifter, wife and mom, and in this episode we talk about what happens when you make room for something that is just for you. Join the Highly Flammable VIP list for first access to live workshops, events, future community offerings, and everything we’re building next. Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) We get into why lifting heavy became non-negotiable for Lisa in midlife, what made bodybuilding feel like the right next challenge, the confidence it took to step onstage, and the unexpected “what now?” that came after the competition was over. Lisa also talks about letting go of perfection, caring less about what other people think, and why she doesn’t see the woman onstage as the best version of herself — just one expression of who she is. In this episode: Becoming a yoga teacher even though she never planned to teach Why lifting heavy is non-negotiable in midlife Choosing a bodybuilding competition as her next challenge The discipline behind preparing for the stage Going from worrying about wearing a sports bra to competing in a bikini “I am not skinny. I am fit.” The unexpected post-show “what now?” Letting go of perfection and people pleasing Protecting your energy “My physique is gonna change, but the growth is gonna stay.” What doing something hard taught Lisa about herself Connect with Lisa Instagram: @callmeleese (https://www.instagram.com/callmeleese/) Stay connected with Gillian and Highly Flammable Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) Join the VIP list: Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) If this episode made you think of a woman who needs to hear it, send it her way. This isn’t a transition. It’s a takeover. Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal stories, opinions, and experiences for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your own qualified healthcare provider regarding your health and treatment decisions.

10. 

    4 Aug 2026

    When the Life You Built No Longer Fits with Sarah Taub

    What happens when the life you worked so hard to build no longer feels like your life? Sarah Taub is the creator of Fig and Whiskey, a lifestyle brand rooted in ritual, intentional living, sensuality, and the belief that women do not have to choose between the different parts of themselves. Join the Highly Flammable VIP list for behind-the-scenes notes, first access to live workshops and events, and more of the conversation: Join the VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) In this episode, Sarah opens up about the pressure to keep performing inside a life that looked beautiful from the outside but had stopped feeling aligned on the inside. We talk about the discomfort of outgrowing an identity, the messy middle between who you were and who you are becoming, and why transformation cannot always be rushed into a neat plan. Sarah also shares how ritual, movement, sensuality, and small moments of pleasure helped her begin reconnecting with herself and why women deserve permission to feel responsible, grounded, joyful, rebellious, and fully alive at the same time. In this conversation: • When success stops feeling like success • Outgrowing an identity you once felt proud of • The pressure women carry to do everything well • Making room for uncertainty and reinvention • Ritual as a way back to yourself • Why sensuality is bigger than sexuality • Reclaiming joy without waiting for permission • Being gentle with yourself in the messy middle This is a conversation about what happens when you stop forcing the old life to fit and begin listening for what wants to come next. Connect with Sarah and Fig and Whiskey: Instagram: @figandwhiskey (https://www.instagram.com/figandwhiskey/) Follow Gillian and Highly Flammable: Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) New episodes every Tuesday. This podcast shares personal stories and opinions for informational and entertainment purposes and is not medical advice. Please speak with your own qualified healthcare provider about your individual needs.

11. 

    28 Jul 2026

    “I Think I’m Losing My Mind”: Perimenopause, Play, and Saying Yes with Jamie Perez

    Jamie Perez thought she was losing her mind. Usually optimistic, playful, and quick to find the bright side, she suddenly felt angry, short-tempered, and unlike herself—until a conversation with her girlfriends gave her a word no doctor had: perimenopause. Jamie became a wife and mom at 19. Now, at 40, she’s raising a blended family of six, living in a century-old Victorian named Novala, building a life with a professional magician, and proudly answering to the title “Queen of Side Quests.” Want more Highly Flammable? Join the VIP list for personal notes from Gillian, behind-the-scenes stories, new episode updates, and first access to live workshops, events, and everything coming next. Join the Highly Flammable VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) In this episode, Jamie talks honestly about the rage, 3 a.m. wake-ups, body changes, and “static” that made her feel like a stranger to herself. She also shares what happened when she looked for answers and was told she was a “medical mystery.” We also talk about rebuilding after divorce, choosing experiences over things, staying connected to family in unconventional ways, learning to genuinely like yourself, giving an ever-changing body grace, reclaiming wonder, practicing boundaries, and why the laundry can wait when a side quest is calling. In this episode: Becoming a wife and mother at 19 Rebuilding after divorce Choosing experiences over things Learning about perimenopause from girlfriends Feeling dismissed while searching for answers The car conversation that made Jamie realize how much she had changed Giving grace to a body that has carried, healed, and kept going Reclaiming play, imagination, and wonder Setting boundaries without guilt Saying yes to the experiences that make life feel bigger Jamie’s reminder: “We’re not too busy. Say yes. We have time.” Connect with Jamie: Instagram: @ridesinheels (https://www.instagram.com/ridesinheels/) Molo Magic: @jmolomagic (https://www.instagram.com/jmolomagic/) Connect with Gillian and Highly Flammable: Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) Join the Highly Flammable VIP list: Go VIP! (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) This podcast shares personal stories and lived experiences and is not medical advice. Please speak with your own doctor or qualified healthcare provider about what is right for your health and body.

12. 

    21 Jul 2026

    By the Time I’m Done With This Life, It Will Owe Me Nothing with Marie Joachim

    Marie Joachim became a mom at 47 after seven years of trying, and she has zero interest in living a life that asks her to disappear, over-sacrifice, or wait for permission. Want more Highly Flammable? Join the VIP list for personal notes from Gillian, behind-the-scenes stories, new episode updates, and first access to live workshops, events, and everything coming next. Join the Highly Flammable VIP list (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) In the first episode of Highly Flammable, Marie talks with Gillian about ambition, infertility, motherhood, career, friendship, family expectations, hot flashes, and the midlife clarity that comes when you realize nobody is handing out cookies for being exhausted and unhappy. This conversation is bold, funny, honest, and full of permission to choose your life while you’re still living it. In this episode, we talk about: Becoming a mom at 47 after a seven-year infertility journey The tension between loving your work and choosing your family What Marie’s mother’s illness revealed about the cost of certain choices Redefining success in midlife Letting go of friendships, traditions, and family expectations that no longer fit Hot flashes, champagne, and choosing the moment anyway Why every woman needs a “board of directors” The freedom of realizing you still get to choose yourself The Line That Stays With Us: “By the time I’m done with this life, it will owe me nothing.” Keep the Fire Going: Follow Gillian on Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) Join the Highly Flammable VIP list for behind-the-scenes notes, episode takeaways, and little sparks for your own next chapter: Get on the list! (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable) Loved this episode? Follow or subscribe to Highly Flammable wherever you listen, and send this episode to a woman who needs a reminder that there is still time to choose herself. Disclaimer: This episode is rooted in personal stories and lived experiences. Nothing in this conversation is medical advice. Please talk with your own doctor, therapist, or qualified provider about what’s right for your body, your health, and your life.

13. 

    21 Mar 2026

    Highly Flammable: The Soundcheck

    Hosted by Gillian Christie Ninan, Highly Flammable is where women in midlife come for honest conversations about midlife, reinvention, purpose, confidence, perimenopause, menopause, career pivots, relationships, and everything in between. Each week, Gillian sits down with inspiring women who are rewriting the rules of the second half of life—with courage, humor, and heart. These are the conversations that remind us we don't need fixing. We just need the courage to trust the spark that's been inside us all along. If you're looking for real stories, practical wisdom, and the reminder that it's never too late to become even more of who you are, welcome. The fire's already there. Let's see what catches. ________________ Keep the Fire Going: Follow Gillian on Instagram: @gillianchristie (https://www.instagram.com/gillianchristie/) Join the Highly Flammable VIP list for behind-the-scenes notes, episode takeaways, and little sparks for your own next chapter: Get on the list! (https://gillianchristiegroup.myflodesk.com/highlyflammable)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact Highly Flammable

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.