Design Your Joyful Retirement

32. All Downhill From Here? Hard Pass ~ with Diane Amelia Read and Teresa Lisum

What does wellness actually mean in midlife ~ and why do so many of us wait for permission to prioritize it? In this episode, I talked with Diane Amelia Read and Teresa Lisum for an honest, energizing conversation about movement, identity, and what it really looks like to age well. We talk about busting the stories we've been handed about getting older, why five intentional minutes beats zero perfect ones, and how showing up imperfectly is still showing up. In this episode: * Why movement is the non-negotiable ~ and how to make it sustainable * The myth of the "right time" to start taking care of yourself * Why "selfless" is not the compliment we think it is * How to define wellness on your own terms * The power of community and accountability * What to do when life blows up and self-care feels impossible Connect with Diane Amelia and Teresa: Linkedin: Diane Amelia Read [https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-amelia-read/] LinkedIn: Teresa Lisum [https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresalisum/] Email: The Vitality Continuum at hello@thevitalitycontinuum.com [hello@thevitalitycontinuum.com] EventBrite: The Vitality Continuum at https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/34531589843?ref=eofblike [https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/34531589843?ref=eofblike] YouTube: Podcast Evolving Women [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdIljnri80CvfCy5NpHi3XAYY4VWIZWVv] with Teresa Lisum

31. What's The Story You've Been Holding? with Dr. Xanthe Golenko

By the time you hit 50, you've lived enough life to fill a few books. But most of us don't think our stories are worth telling. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Xanthe Golenko about why that couldn't be further from the truth. Xanthe was a dancer in France, then a researcher studying older adults. When she introduced life story books into care homes, something magical happened ~ families reconnected, staff saw the whole person, and the storytellers themselves transformed. That's when she realized: storytelling isn't just about preserving the past. It's about connection, healing, and claiming your voice in the present. We talk about: * Why your "everyday" moments are exactly what other women need to hear * The power of telling your story in a safe space * How to move from "I don't have a story" to sharing something deeply personal * What would you do if you weren't afraid? * Practical ways to start telling your story Your story doesn't need to be extraordinary to be powerful. It just needs to be yours. Connect with Xanthe: Website: https://gettingartsyafter50.com/ [https://gettingartsyafter50.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getting_artsy_after_50/ [https://www.instagram.com/getting_artsy_after_50/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565782329665 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565782329665] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanthe-golenko-b0993752/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanthe-golenko-b0993752/]

30. Your Future Self Called. She's Fine. (Better Than Fine, Actually.)

In this episode, I'm talking with Pauline Zielonka, founder of Retirement Life Plan, about what people actually experience when they step away from full-time work. Pauline has spent years researching the non-financial side of retirement, and what she's found is both surprising and deeply reassuring. We talk about why the fear of boredom is so much more common than actual boredom, how retirement can expand (not erase) your sense of self, and why generic retirement advice often misses the mark. Pauline also shares insights from her research on what helps people adjust ~ and what makes the transition harder than it needs to be. This conversation isn't just for people approaching retirement. It's for anyone who's ever wondered: What do I want the next chapter of my life to feel like? Whether retirement is two years away or twenty, this episode will help you start thinking about it differently. In this episode, we cover: * Why roughly 1 in 3 people struggle with retirement (and what the other two-thirds are doing differently) * The gap between fear and reality when it comes to boredom and loss of identity * How retirement can reveal parts of yourself that were buried under decades of career focus * The importance of self-reflection over cookie-cutter advice * Why flexibility matters more than having everything planned out * How values shift as we move through life transitions * What retirement coaches do (and how they work alongside financial planners) Connect with Pauline Website: https://www.retirementlifeplan.com/ [https://www.retirementlifeplan.com/] Book: Retirement Life Plan [https://www.amazon.com/Retirement-Life-Plan-Navigating-transition/dp/1981150293/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2KJODNNUO7PNR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Mte0dfL69iXGd_iBbB7Xr846X9bcRig29ZlZ62vHmtFA0qWGNIgnKuHH8q5JqijU6DTDDCTlT4PB_-0guRJnrXpr20R5SvjR-9uztXVmmhlQ93rci_BrGv3R1DCLt9r6lFG73ngCh6A4a_E7Lw9lt-SnQkSDQI2_vcVMI8n9rU7tYP1Bw0O-YbbwEK0yg7XVN0H9w_88ZAUFsAdemUbGkutgb7Jv5-40AazepSkXje4.KeGxVDEMUZ7aliPOqFkztw65qG3ze_7C8wlz0D1ugls&dib_tag=se&keywords=retirement+life+plan&qid=1774404970&sprefix=retirement+life+plan%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-3] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/retirement-life-plan/posts/?feedView=all [https://www.linkedin.com/company/retirement-life-plan/posts/?feedView=all]

29. From Ad Agency to Ashram to Memoir Ghostwriter ~ A Conversation with Gail Harris

What if the hard-won, transformative parts of your life are exactly what someone else needs to hear? In this episode, I talk with Gail Harris ~ memoir ghostwriter who helps women turn their lived experience into stories that heal. We cover the difference between memoir and autobiography, how to find your narrative arc (even when life feels all over the place), and why being deeply listened to is so transformative. If you've ever thought "I should write a book someday," this episode might be the nudge. Your story ~ the one you've lived, survived, and learned from ~ is probably more universal (and more powerful) than you think. Connect with Gail at: Website: https://goldenghostwriting.com/ [https://goldenghostwriting.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-harris-269a219/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-harris-269a219/] Book: Your Heart Knows The Answer: How to Trust Yourself and Make the Choices That are Right For You [https://www.amazon.com/Your-Heart-Knows-Answer-Affirmations/dp/193072246X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=34XBFC8EZY1P7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EkVmtoCgTo-MeksMEL5kO5SSXPfV5rLEEwxoE0oRfzeNCd3xg4FVI-mvuiNLGFL1yeaQTTBsMitatY5s3aywFmy3jZ5gZkl-u7VlYBnFZaLtMOgEY5ASmlIuWsRcrKZ9R5nUtxQsRqfdQk0g43jZKsDfCvJ94rgeDHfMJmkOXNFYfjia8ZTylYuxkzP18epLOrZJoq1nYgiAZ-AeYV6iasTOxEPSgdrgkUkV9lrXEyw.gcfYJSxTLmYzMcVvi-d--J3gH3wB8Lr1axjnbPSiEGg&dib_tag=se&keywords=gail+harris&qid=1773199351&sprefix=gail+harri%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-3]

28. One Breath at a Time: Support for All of Us with Lydia Mandell

This week, Laurie welcomes breathwork coach Lydia Mandell to the podcast for a truly nourishing conversation about the healing power of breath. Breathwork can be a lifeline ~ bringing us back into our bodies, soothing our nervous systems, and helping us gently release what weighs us down. In this episode, we explore: * What breathwork really is (and why it goes far beyond relaxation) * How conscious breathing can help release stored tension, grief, and old emotional patterns * The importance of feeling safe and supported ~ whether in 1:1 sessions or in community ~ especially for women * Myths and misconceptions about breathwork ("You can't do it wrong!") * Tips for starting a breathwork practice at home, and how to know if it's right for you * Why healing doesn't have to be arduous (sometimes it's gentle…and even a little bit fun) * Why community, laughter, and letting yourself be are key to real transformation Whether you're curious about breathwork or just looking for ways to reconnect and recharge, this conversation offers warmth, practical tips, and a reminder: you're not alone, and there's no "right way" to heal. Mentioned in this episode: * Lydia's favorite breathwork techniques for beginners * How to find a qualified, trustworthy breathwork practitioner (International Breathwork Foundation [https://www.ibf.org/], Philadelphia Rebirthing Center [https://www.philadelphiarebirthing.com/]) * The value of integration after a session ~ and the power of community for ongoing support Take a deep breath and listen now. May this episode bring you a moment of peace and unexpected lightness. To connect with Lydia: Website ~ https://playlikeapriestess.com/ [https://playlikeapriestess.com/] Instagram ~ https://www.instagram.com/playlikeapriestess/ [https://www.instagram.com/playlikeapriestess/] LinkedIn ~ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-mandell-lpc-atr-bc-a99005134/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lydia-mandell-lpc-atr-bc-a99005134/]