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November 12, 2025 33 mins

Ever notice how one night of girl talk can leave you feeling lighter, calmer, and more grounded — even if nothing in your life has changed? Turns out, that’s not just emotional — it’s science.

In this funny, cozy, and research-backed episode of High Heels, Higher Standards, hosts Ashley Werner and Heidi Hushak break down the neurochemical power of female friendship — why talking with your girlfriends literally lowers stress, boosts mood, and rewires your brain for connection and healing.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

  • The science of girl talk — how oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine create instant emotional relief
  • Why venting isn’t gossip (and how to know the difference)
  • What healthy emotional regulation looks like in real friendships
  • The “tend and befriend” stress response unique to women
  • How emotional co-regulation works — and why your best friend might actually be your nervous system’s favorite person
  • The physical and emotional health risks of loneliness (and how connection heals them)

Whether you’re sipping wine with your besties, decompressing on your commute, or hiding in your car with coffee between meetings — this one’s for you. Get ready to laugh, learn, and feel deeply seen as Ashley and Heidi remind us that connection is medicine, not drama.

🎙️ Listen now to learn why girl talk is the most powerful (and free) therapy there is — backed by brain science.


Keywords: female friendship, women supporting women, emotional regulation, girl talk podcast, oxytocin, stress relief, neuroscience of connection, women’s mental health, healing through connection, female empowerment podcast, emotional intelligence, self-care for women, women in leadership, friendship therapy, women’s wellness, co-regulation, feminine energy, High Heels Higher Standards

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Until next Wednesday, keep your head, heels and standards high! Please follow along for more on TikTok and Instagram: @higherheelspodcast

Thank you for listening, lovelies!

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