Who are these girls?

Olive Fontaine

Hi! I’m Olive and I am a 13-year-old girl who is not a “typical” teenager.

I have divorced parents who are both remarried and I have a stepbrother and a half-sister. I love old and new music like Led Zeppelin, Devo, The Police, No Doubt, Sublime, etc.

Some of my hobbies are tap dancing, drawing, and playing with my little sister. When I grow up I want to be a fashion designer. I constantly hear people tell me, “Oh I don’t know. That’s a very difficult business.” But I don’t have a goal of being famous. I just want to be myself because I have almost lost me too many times.

Janet Brace

Age 24

I'm Janet, and I like to think of myself as a dreamer who follows her passions but also a pragmatist who looks for lessons each step of the way. I am always open to listening to the views of other people, but believe that true friendship is based on honesty, and I am known to offer my opinion whether or not you want to hear it! I am constantly learning from my relationships with family and friends and believe inspiration for life can even be found in the small moments shared with loved ones.

I love being a woman and am embracing my feminine power in my 20s. I love being a redhead! I love to travel, and every new environment I visit teaches me more about myself. I find joy in knitting, a great day on the golf course, reading a book, running, and cleaning (nothing beats a clean kitchen!). My outlets to take a break from working in the crazy world of advertising. As I grow older and further develop my relationship with my mom and dad, I have become fascinated changing role of my parents in my life as I have started to become more independent, but I love knowing that they will always be an important part of my life no matter where it takes me. My life always seems to be a journey full of surprise, and I love it!

Jennifer Gunsaullus, PhD

Age 36

I am passionate about education and empowerment around female sexuality!  I believe that at the heart of making healthy and balanced choices around sexuality and relationships is our self-worth and self-knowledge.  Our sexuality is such a source of joy, power, connection, and healing, yet unfortunately is often a disconnected or disempowered aspect of women’s lives.

I was trained as a Sociologist and sexual health educator, and now work as a Relationship & Intimacy Doctor.  My specialty is working with individuals, couples, and college students for healthy sexuality, happy relationships, and “holistic” sexuality.  This term indicates my approach of integrating the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of sexuality.  I do this through my website and video podcast show at DrJennsDen.

I grew up in Pennsylvania, but am thrilled to now live by the beach in San Diego.  One of my highlights each week is Saturday beach volleyball.  I also find that I love and crave a regular yoga practice for its balance and challenge, and am delighted that my 64-year old mother recently developed her own passion for yoga.  In addition, hats, wigs, boas, and scarves are a regular part of my wardrobe!

Debba Haupert

40-something

I'm a girlfriend. I've worn a lot of hats and done a lot of things, but most of all, I want to be a girlfriend - a great girlfriend. I aspire to be the friend who remembers birthdays and makes her friends feel special. I long to be organized so that I have time for my friends. I want to be compassionate, a great listener and a wonderful shoulder to cry on or friend to laugh with.

These goals lead me to start GIRLFRIENDOLOGY - the online community for women based on inspiration, appreciation and celebration of female friendship. On Girlfriendology we interview inspiring women for our weekly podcast and live BlogTalkRadio shows (like the wonderful Christine Arylo!) as well as conduct contests where women send in their favorite girlfriend stories. We review products, share videos and are building a community where women can share and learn together - with our girlfriends.

My background is in corporate marketing. I'm an award-winning author and have been on-camera over 250 times (including QVC, HGTV) and have been published in dozens of magazines. I am a passionate student of social media (Twitter: Girlfriendology) and work with companies in marketing through social media to women. But most of all, I'm a girlfriend. I long to make the world a better place one 'girlfriendship' at a time.

Shelley Anderson

50-something

I’m 50-something, but I feel like I’m really just a kid at heart. I’ve lived so many different “lives” that I’m not really sure how to define the one I am currently in right now! My early years were spent traveling the world because I was an Army brat; going wherever the military sent my Dad. My high school and college years saw me living in California, soaking up the politics and excitement of the 1960s. My goal then was to work for a politician and together we would change the world. Robert F. Kennedy and Gloria Steinem were my idols. In the 1970s I got married, but not before launching a successful career as an opera/musical theatre performer and professional vocal coach. In the 1980s I continued to sing, but I also worked behind the scenes in Hollywood for a film producer, a booking agent, a repertory theatre director, and eventually the President of Capitol-EMI Records. Heady times!

In the 1990s I had a daughter, and left Los Angeles for San Diego to start my new career as a mom. In 1998, I met and became the personal assistant to self-help guru and author Louise L. Hay. Still with Miss Hay for almost 11 years, I believe my first goal all those years ago has been fulfilled: together we are changing the world. In 2006, I ended my nearly 30 year marriage. I’ve written a book, Dealing with Divas: A Survival Kit for the Celebrity Personal Assistant (or Anyone with a Pushy Boss) and started a web site and blog: www.dealingwithdivas.com. Finishing the book coupled with my 8 years as a member of the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants has given me to courage to step out more and be my authentic self. I love making a difference in the world!

Dr. Lissa Rankin

I am a doctor.  I am an artist.  I am a writer.  I am a teacher.  I am also a mother, a practitioner of yoga, a wife, a chauffeur, a cook, a garbage collector, a dog-walker, and a hiker.  First and foremost, I am a woman, and like many women, I once thought I had to put myself in a box and choose who to be.  But I now accept that, while I am all of these things, no single identity defines me.  I am more than what I do.  As women, we all struggle with who we really are and whether our lives reflect our truest selves.  I now strive to be authentic, in all aspects of my life, whether I’m writing or painting or healing or teaching, and I encourage others to do the same." 

Lissa also leads Owning Pink workshops, a series of workshops that invite women to explore the healing power of creative expression and the female spirit.  Through these workshops, women are invited to use art, writing, yoga, dance, storytelling, and healing ritual in their process of Owning Creativity, Fertility, Joy After Loss, Sexuality, Menopause, Love After Divorce, Motherhood, Health After Cancer and other healing adventures.  For more information about Owning Pink workshops, visit www.owningpink.com. To see her art, visit her website www.lissarankin.com and to read samples of her writing, visit www.owningpink.blogspot.com.

Christine Arylo

Inspirational Catalyst

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." – Howard Thurman

I got tired of telling people that I was a author, a coach and a speaker – it made even me want to change the conversation – so I started saying “inspirational catalyst.” And, while most people don't know what the hell that means, it always opens up the conversation, and if you haven’t been able to tell already, I love to talk, connect and generally ask lots of questions.

I ended up here not by some well-designed, intricate plan but by a series of events that started with the ending of my 15-year relationship at the age of 30 (yes, do the math.) By all accounts I was uber successful on the outside – rising marketing executive, mini-mcmansion, bling bling engagement ring, posse of friends and an mba from “the” business school. Although I didn't know it then, I was a girl living to fit her image instead of woman being true to her soul. Seven years later, after freeing my spirit, saying NO to settling, and finally finding the real ME, I spend my time and energy challenging and guiding others to do the same.

When I am not busy being the catalyzing superhero, you’ll find me somewhere in the world enjoying great food, fabulous wine with fantastic and eclectic company. You’re as likely to find me in Bloomingdales as you are to see me in an Ashram. My partner says that I’m complex. I’d say curious and eccentric, with a twist of interesting and whimsy… and today, that suits me just fine. I love the real me!

 

Tres Fontaine

42 years young
Gemini

I’m a young-at-heart, “cool mom” who is growing gratefully (and hopefully gracefully) into my wisdom. I’ve been told that I have a wild and creative streak with a zest for life. I love connecting with all of the women in my life, including my mother, three sisters, a wise and wonderful daughter (you might know her as Olive Fontaine) and many beautiful friends, both old and new.

My vocation is a merchandise buyer for an international clothing retailer where I get to choose trends and hopefully see lots of them on the street. My life dream is to have my own small shop someday.

My creative juices get a yearly recharge at the Burningman festival, which has given me an opportunity to dress up and play like a child but with the benefits of being a sexy adult. My physical energy is expressed through trail-running, cycling, flamenco and belly-dancing, as well as fun techno dancing. I hope to never fully retire from a full and active life.

Francine Daniels

with Miko
 
"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."
- Oprah Winfrey

i am a recovering overachiever - yes, i have earned four degrees and 30-year student loan payments. i have lived a sorid past as a social justice crime fighter, nerdy academic, top notch media strategist and recovering law grad. my new cosmic wish is to rebirth myself into a colorful and magical being that is fearless, imaginative and as opinionated as my friends let me be. oh and i plan to be a best-selling fiction author (that overachiever thing so haunts me). i value all things bubbly (um, actually only the alcoholic kind), my divine girlfriends, my teapot collection, knitting until my fingers cramp, fragrant blooming flowers, old school patchouli, musky scented candles, sparking verbal tangos and lavender infused honey with my morning cuppa tea. oh, and i think i have a FBI file somewhere...xoxo. fd

Special Guest: The V-Puppet

Some people call me V-Puppet, but I’m also known as the Wondrous Vulva (you all know what I am talking about, right?) and some like to call me The Vagina Pillow. Many of us have mixed feelings about the word “vagina,” but whatever you want to call her “va jay jay,” “yoni,” “punani” we all have one and we might as well have some fun with her while we are here on this planet as women.

The Girltalkers asked me to be a part of their show to keep things spicy, lively and real. I love to hang out with my women friends and they love me very much!

I’ve also worked with Eve Ensler, creator of The Vagina Monologues who inspires women to reclaim their connection to me. And I have to admit that as a puppet I am not camera shy, and have appeared on TV on shows like The Tyra Banks Show.

The good news is that I have lots of sister puppets just waiting to find homes. If you want to have your very own V-Puppet, you can find us at www.yoni.com