208: Molly Skye Brown Escape From Ghislaine Maxwell
Meredyth with a Why
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Molly Skye Brown, survivor, advocate, and author of Me Too Much: A Fed-Up Survivor. Molly bravely shares her story of abuse, grooming, and an alleged assault that forever changed her life, along with her chilling brush with Ghislaine Maxwell. As Molly walked me through her experiences, I was struck by how clearly she reveals the playbook predators use, from false promises of modeling contracts and luxury trips to the “casting couch” setups and even the infamous invitations to Mar-a-Lago. Listening to her describe how she escaped, and how her...
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207: Chad Kultgen Talks Spirituality
Meredyth with a Why
In this wide-open, human conversation, I sit down with writer and podcaster Chad Kultgen (The Necessary Conversation) to explore where politics, family, and spirituality collide—without the hot takes or doom spiral. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay connected to loved ones who see the world differently, or if you’re curious about consciousness, synchronicities, and the “game” behind reality, this one’s for you. What we get into (lightly structured so you can skim): Family, politics, and calm on the mic — How a weekly podcast with Chad’s MAGA parents created a safe...
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206: Fetishized With Kaila Yu
Meredyth with a Why
In this episode, Kaila Yu, author, journalist, and cultural commentator, joins me to talk about her book Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Feminism, and Beauty—and the bigger story of how media, culture, and the male gaze shape identity, desire, and safety. It’s an honest, nuanced conversation about Asian American representation, yellow fever, consent, and what real self-love looks like in a world of shifting beauty standards. In this episode, we cover: Representation that actually represents — from the days of Memoirs of a Geisha and The Joy Luck Club to K-pop, Squid Game,...
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205: Orange Is The New Black's Mandela Bellamy
Meredyth with a Why
In this powerful episode of Meredyth with a Why, I sit down with Mandela Bellamy, actress from Orange Is the New Black, Joker, Jessica Jones, and more, to hear her extraordinary journey through Hollywood, homelessness, and healing. Mandela’s story is raw, honest, and eye-opening. She shares what it was really like to appear on one of Netflix’s biggest shows while quietly facing housing insecurity, the harsh realities of streaming residuals, and the pressure of surviving in an industry where women are often undervalued. Beyond the acting world, she opens up about deeply personal...
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193: Exposing Lyme & Chronic Illness with Dr. Brad Montagne
Meredyth with a Why
In this episode of Meredyth with a Why, I sit down with Dr. Brad Montagne, a chronic illness specialist who’s spent over 40 years treating some of the most extreme and complex cases—patients who’ve seen countless doctors, spent thousands on lab work, and are still left without answers. Dr. Brad shares why conventional medicine so often fails people with chronic illness, and how his method—rooted in deep diagnostics, weekly interaction, and muscle testing—gets REAL results. You’ll hear: The truth about why so many people with Lyme disease, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune...
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204: Recap with Chris Burres and MyVitalC
Meredyth with a Why
In this episode, Meredyth sits back down with Chris Burres of MyVitalC to dive deeper into her personal journey using this groundbreaking supplement and the science behind it. From better sleep to calmer days, the results have been both surprising and life-changing. Chris also shares powerful stories, research insights, and how MyVitalC is reshaping the way we think about health, longevity, and even skincare. Here’s what you’ll discover in this recap: - Meredyth’s firsthand results within the first three days, plus how MyVitalC continues to improve her focus and calm her racing...
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203: Dr. Diane Mueller Talks Sex
Meredyth with a Why
In this episode of Meredyth with a Why, I sit down with Dr. Diane Mueller for a real conversation about sex, desire, and intimacy when life is busy and the mental load is heavy. We talk about what actually helps women want sex again, how to reconnect without pressure, and why small shifts can change your relationship and your health. What you’ll learn: Desire vs arousal, why many women need arousal first, then desire, and how a calm 20 minute warm up rebuilds connection. The attention gap, men’s laser focus vs women’s diffuse awareness, and simple ways to quiet the mind and...
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202: N.L Holmes From Nun To Novelist
Meredyth with a Why
In this powerful and refreshingly honest episode, Meredyth sits down with N.L. Holmes—former nun, archaeologist, professor, and now a prolific historical fiction author with 15 novels to her name. Together, they unpack her extraordinary life journey, touching on identity, faith, reinvention, and how the past still mirrors the present. You’ll hear about: Her 20 years in a cloistered convent—the silence, the solitude, the internal doubts, and the moment she knew it was time to leave. Reentering the “real world” at 40—from learning computers and credit cards to earning a PhD and...
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201: Out Of The Basement She Climbed
Meredyth with a Why
In this powerful episode of Meredyth with a Why, host Meredyth Willits sits down with intuitive author, healer, and psychic medium Rebecca J. Rowan to talk about her raw and transformative memoir Healing Becky. It’s a soul-shaking book that’s helping people everywhere face their trauma, rewrite their past, and reclaim their future. Meredyth shares how the book cracked open a part of her she didn’t know could heal. Together, she and Rebecca explore the deeply personal and spiritual process of confronting generational pain, breaking family cycles, and choosing healing, even when...
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200: Pushing Past the Boundaries of Never with Jane Fischer
Meredyth with a Why
In this moving episode, I sit down with Jane Fischer, author of If You Knew Suzy, to talk about the extraordinary journey of raising her daughter, Suzy—a child born with a rare genetic condition, countless medical challenges, and a spirit that has defied every single prognosis. What started as a conversation about Jane’s book turned into something much deeper—a raw and powerful look at motherhood, resilience, advocacy, and what it really means to never give up. Here’s what we dive into: A Birth Full of Unknowns: How what seemed like a typical pregnancy quickly...
info_outlineIn this unforgettable episode, I sit down with Diane Christiansen—former Las Vegas showgirl, award-winning acting coach, and author of The Last Real Showgirl—to talk about what it really means to live a bold, creative, and unapologetically authentic life.
Diane’s story reads like a Hollywood script (and honestly, it should be one). From dancing under the bright lights of Vegas in million-dollar costumes to coaching breakout stars on hit shows like Stranger Things, The Penguin, and This Is Us, she’s done it all—with grace, grit, and a ton of sequins.
Here’s what we dive into:
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The real, behind-the-scenes life of a Las Vegas showgirl in the ‘70s (spoiler: not like the movies)
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Why Diane turned down a Playboy centerfold at 17—and how discipline shaped her path
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The myth vs. reality of showbiz glamour, sisterhood, and self-worth
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What it means to actually train successful Hollywood actors—and why craft matters
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How Diane wrote her memoir and the dream of turning it into a limited series
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The wisdom of knowing when to push, and when to pause—and how spirituality and balance fuel Diane’s fire
This episode is filled with laughter, truth bombs, and so much inspiration. Diane’s lived a hundred lives in one—and she’s still going strong.
Whether you’re chasing a creative dream, navigating reinvention, or just love a good story about resilience, glamour, and grit—this episode will leave you lit up.
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00:00 Introducing Diane Christiansen
04:51 Challenges and Triumphs in the Dance World
08:47 Sisterhood and Mentorship
20:00 The Glamour and Reality of Showbiz
35:21 Evolution of Showbiz and Personal Reflections
37:19 The Pressure of Unrealistic Standards
44:31 The Power of Positive Thinking
46:42 Writing the Memoir
55:13 The Realities of Showgirl Life
59:11 Acting Coach and Career Highlights
01:06:23 Reflections and Future Aspirations
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Ready to dive even deeper? I’m handing you the keys to the castle! If you loved this episode and want more, don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss out! Let’s stay connected—find me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Connect with Diane Christiansen:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/diane.christiansen.142/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_last_real_showgirl
🎟️ Grab Diane’s book “The Last Real Showgirl” at thelastrealshowgirl.com or wherever books are sold.