Her Comeback: Transforming Your Life After 50

She Saw What Therapy Was Missing, And Built Something Better; Her Comeback with Dr. Barbara Holstein

Episode Summary- https://hercomebackpodcast.com/ [https://hercomebackpodcast.com/] What happens when a psychologist looks around her field and realizes something essential is missing? For Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, the answer changed the trajectory of her entire career—and the lives of countless women. In this rich conversation with host Michelle Thompson, Dr. Holstein shares how she pioneered what we now call positive psychology decades before it had a name, why she built her practice around the concept of the “Enchanted Self,” and how her journey from classroom teacher to published author, playwright, filmmaker, and podcaster is proof that reinvention doesn’t have an age limit. Whether you’re carrying the weight of what went wrong, wondering if it’s too late to pursue a forgotten dream, or simply ready to see yourself through a new lens—this episode will remind you that your potential never disappeared. It’s been waiting for you to come back to it. What You’ll Discover in This Episode • How Dr. Holstein noticed what traditional therapy was getting wrong—and what she did about it, starting with 19 volunteer interviews over two years. • The unexpected near-fall at a conference that led to her first book being published—and why she calls it an absolute miracle. • What “the Enchanted Self” actually means in practice, and the beautiful shifts that happen when women begin to reclaim their potential. • Why women today still face many of the same internal barriers as generations before—and what it looks like to move beyond them. • How to use your past as a resource rather than a wound, including how understanding your ancestors’ story can reframe your own. • The childhood memories that unlock energy and self-belief—and why going back to age 8 or 10 can open a secret door within you. • What held Dr. Holstein back in her own journey—and how she kept moving forward anyway, choosing impact over income. • Why her coming-of-age films put young women’s voices at the center, and what we all gain when we stop and listen. • The simple, daily “Recipes for Enchantment” that create moments of joy, connection, and aliveness. About Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a positive psychologist, author, filmmaker, and the creator of The Enchanted Self—a philosophy and practice centered on helping women recover the best of who they are. A pioneer in strength-based therapy long before positive psychology became mainstream, Dr. Holstein has authored multiple books including her landmark first publication on women’s potential, the beloved children’s book I’m a Girl, I’m Smart and I Know Everything, Recipes for Enchantment, and her most recent work, Women’s Freedom. Her coming-of-age short films have been honored hundreds of times at festivals worldwide. Connect with Dr. Holstein Website: enchantedself.com [http://enchantedself.com] Email: barbara.holstein@gmail.com [barbara.holstein@gmail.com] Enjoyed This Episode? Subscribe to Her Comeback on your favorite podcast platform and follow Michelle on YouTube at Michelle Thompson – Life Coaching for more encouragement, real talk, and stories of women who refused to let their setback be their final chapter.

Reinvention Is Not Optional — Her Comeback with Shannaz Schopfer

Her Comeback with Shannaz Schopfer, host Michelle Thompson https://hercomebackpodcast.com/ [https://hercomebackpodcast.com/] What does it look like to rebuild yourself — not once, not twice, but again and again across five decades and multiple continents? In this episode, Michelle sits down with Shannaz Schopfer, a global beauty industry veteran and founder of The Beauty Architects, for a candid conversation about reinvention, grit, and what it really costs a woman to earn her seat at the table. From growing up as a serial entrepreneur's daughter traveling country to country — learning languages on the fly and hiding her shyness behind a forced smile — to launching her own skincare brand, selling it, and starting over in a new country, Shannaz has never let a closed door be the final word. Now based in LA, she's channeling 45 years of hard-won knowledge into helping emerging beauty founders navigate the complex world of global manufacturing. Today, Shannaz serves as a bridge between indie brand founders and the often-confusing world of international manufacturing, while mentoring the next generation of women entering the beauty space. * Connect: LinkedIn (search Shannaz Schopfer) * Company: The Beauty Architects Key Themes & Takeaways Reinvention as a way of life Shannaz has rebuilt her career more times than most people attempt once — from brand founder, to sales rep, to lab director, to M&A advisor, to consultant. Her throughline? A refusal to stop moving forward. "If you stop moving forward, you stop living." The culture classroom Growing up moving from country to country — and being placed in public schools where she didn't speak the language — taught Shannaz adaptability, empathy, and a global lens that became her greatest professional asset. Her father's solution to her shyness? Public speaking and theater classes. It worked. The gap no one was filling The idea for The Beauty Architects came from noticing that indie beauty brands and quality manufacturers kept missing each other. Big brands don't need a guide. New founders do. Shannaz built her business around being that trusted bridge. What sustainability actually means in beauty Shannaz breaks down the full supply chain of what "sustainable" really requires — from responsible ingredient sourcing to manufacturing practices, packaging choices, and the reality that retail infrastructure and inconsistent recycling systems still stand in the way. What it cost her to lead in a male-dominated space She doesn't sugarcoat it: she was fired for pushing back. Fired for reporting harassment. She watched a CEO take credit for her strategy, fail, and later admit she should have had the role. "Should I spend more time with those I love, and be present for those who need me?" — The kind of recalibration only lived experience brings. Lifting as she climbs Shannaz speaks at schools, mentors emerging women in product development, and advocates for equal pay and self-advocacy — because she knows the beauty industry's consumers and workers are largely women, while the boardrooms still often aren't. Her message to the woman sitting on an idea Follow your gut. Have grit. Surround yourself with non-toxic people. Get an NDA before you talk. Ask not "Is this a good idea?" but "What would the pitfalls and positives be?" And know this: failure is an education, not a verdict.

From Broadcast to Broccoli - Her Comeback with Amanda Hull

Her Comeback | Episode Notes Guest: Amanda Hull, Author & Certified Health Coach Episode Summary Michelle sits down with Amanda Hull — Iowa farm girl turned Florida-based health coach and author — for a conversation about getting back to the basics of wellness, sustainable health habits, and the courage it takes to walk away from a corporate career to live on your own terms. About Amanda Amanda Hull grew up on a small acreage in Fenton, Iowa (population 300), where gardening, hunting, and raising chickens were everyday life. After a 30-year career in broadcast television and sales management — including a General Sales Manager role at a Hearst Broadcasting affiliate and a volunteer Wellness Champion role for the company — she made a pivotal shift during COVID, leaving corporate life to become a certified health coach specializing in nutrition. She and her husband now live in Florida. Her Book: Rooted: The Down to Earth Basics of Wellness Amanda's debut book weaves nostalgic stories from her '80s childhood with practical guidance on nutrition, fitness, mental health, and financial wellbeing. The premise: good health doesn't have to be complicated or expensive — it just has to be sustainable. The book is dedicated in part to her father, who passed away in 2020, and is available at hull-health.com [http://hull-health.com] and on Amazon. Key Takeaways * Sustainability over gimmicks. Whether it's SlimFast in the '80s or Ozempic today, any plan you can't maintain for life will ultimately fail. Ask yourself: can I do this at 80? * Ultra-processed food is engineered to keep you eating. 70% of the average American's diet is ultra-processed. Real food — chicken, broccoli, a potato — satisfies in ways a bag of Doritos never will. * Taste preferences change — but it takes time. Rewiring your palate from processed food to whole food takes weeks or months, not days. Consistency is everything. * Be a lion, not a sheep. Don't let food companies, social media, or cultural noise decide what's healthy for you. Think critically, do the research, trust your own body. * One takeaway for women: You don't have to be perfect — just consistent. Small, daily habits compound into a foundation you'll be proud of. Connect with Amanda 🌐 hull-health.com [http://hull-health.com] | 📖 Rooted available on Amazon "Health is freedom. You live a great life, you're healthy — it's freedom. It allows you to do a lot of things." — Amanda Hull Subscribe to Her Comeback on YouTube: @MichelleThompson-LifeCoaching

Too Much for the Room with Passion Pam on Her Comeback

Her Comeback | Episode Notes with Passion Pam Host: Michelle Thompson https://hercomebackpodcast.com/ [https://hercomebackpodcast.com/] Intimacy coach, entrepreneur, and podcast host Passion Pam has been facilitating real conversations about sexual health and pleasure for over 22 years. What began as a way to earn extra income as a stay-at-home mom evolved into a full coaching and education platform helping women and couples reclaim joy, confidence, and connection. Now 52, Pam brings her signature humor, warmth, and zero-judgment energy to everything she does — including her own podcast, Be You with Passion Pam. In this lively in-person studio conversation, Michelle and Pam explore what it means to live unapologetically — in and out of the bedroom. Pam shares how a chance bachelorette party encounter launched a 22-year career, why laughter is her secret coaching tool, and how turning 50 deepened her commitment to helping women navigate sensuality, identity, and self-permission in the chapters that follow midlife. Topics covered: * How sensual confidence connects to overall confidence * The perimenopause blind spot women aren't talking about * Why Pam replaced the word "change" with "evolve" * The awareness-first framework for women who feel disconnected * Her "edutainment" approach — why humor opens doors shame keeps closed * The mirror high-five: her daily self-affirmation practice "I stopped asking how do others see me, and I flipped the switch — how do I see myself?" "I've been told I'm too much for the room. I just say — no, I'm too much for you." "I've started replacing the word change with evolve. You know you're gonna come out better and stronger on the other side." Connect with Passion Pam: Website: passionpam.com [http://passionpam.com] Podcast: Be You with Passion Pam — Spotify & YouTube Social: @passionpam on all platforms

From Wall Street to Purpose-Driven — Her Comeback with Stephanie Georges

Her Comeback Podcast - https://hercomebackpodcast.com/ [https://hercomebackpodcast.com/] About This Episode What happens when a high-achieving woman reaches the top of her field and still feels like something is missing? In this episode, host Michelle Thompson sits down with Stephanie Georges — former C-suite executive, top-ranked Wall Street analyst, and co-founder of Meraki Dignity — to talk about the slow unraveling of a successful corporate identity, and what it took to finally walk away and build something that truly matters. About Stephanie Georges Stephanie is a first-generation Greek-American who grew up in Brooklyn before it was "cool." She built a distinguished career leading strategy, product development, brand, and transformation across industries. Two years ago, in her 60s, she made a major pivot — leaving behind a C-suite life to co-found Meraki Dignity, a purpose-driven platform designed to help women find clarity, confidence, and agency during life's biggest transitions. What We Cover The moment she knew it was time to leave There wasn't one single moment — it was an accumulation. Stephanie found herself sitting in conference rooms as the only woman, feeling like an observer rather than a contributor. The joy had faded. She was on autopilot. The real turning point was holding up a mirror and admitting: not quite. How she actually made the leap She set a deadline — told her CEO a year out — and committed publicly so she couldn't keep moving the goalposts. It was a leap, not a plan. But every day she stayed past her truth became harder to ignore. What she had to unlearn The corporate habit of excusing being marginalized — "they didn't mean it," "I wasn't included because of X." Stephanie had to reset her boundaries and give herself permission to only work with people who honor her dignity. She rebuilt her culture from scratch, on her own terms. What Meraki means Meraki (μεράκι) is a Greek word that doesn't translate easily — it's the feeling of pouring your whole soul into something. Creativity, love, and full immersion. Stephanie first witnessed it watching her mother paint in the basement, lost in the music and the work. Finding your Meraki starts with clarity → confidence → agency → intentional choice. What early data from the platform revealed Women arrived expecting quick answers, then left — and came back to carve out real time. The most common feedback: "Thank you for giving me the space I haven't been able to give myself." And while the team expected health transitions to be the core issue, what women ultimately opened up about — once they felt safe — was community. The fear of being alone. On reinvention Reinvention doesn't mean starting over from a blank slate. Everything you've been through — even the hard stuff, the stumbles, the so-called failures — has wisdom in it. It's not about undoing. It's about building on. On agency Agency doesn't have to be a huge leap. It starts small: deciding to exercise today, having one honest conversation, taking one next step. Small choices build a reserve for the inevitable setbacks ahead. Connect with Stephanie 🌐 Website: MerakiDignity.com [http://MerakiDignity.com] 📖 Substack: Meraki Dignity on Substack The platform is currently in beta (launching June 2026). They welcome feedback and would love for you to explore and engage. Her Comeback is hosted by Coach Michelle Thompson. New episodes drop regularly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.