Over 50 Shades of Great ~ Podcast

From Grief to Gratitude: Kathy Swarts from The Golden Bachelor

What happens when life completely falls apart—and you choose to build something beautiful anyway? In this episode of Over 50 Shades of Great, Deborah Read sits down with fan favorite Kathy Swarts from The Golden Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise for a candid conversation about grief, resilience, dating after loss, aging with confidence, and embracing life’s next chapter. Kathy shares the story behind her journey to The Golden Bachelor, what she learned from stepping into the spotlight in her 70s, and why she believes life is far from over after 50. She opens up about losing her husband of 46 years to suicide, the healing process that followed, and how she transformed heartbreak into hope for herself and others. You’ll also hear Kathy’s refreshing take on dating after 50, strength training, menopause, self-confidence, women supporting women, and why gratitude has become her secret to living a joyful life. This episode is filled with wisdom, laughter, honesty, and powerful reminders that some of life’s greatest chapters begin after our hardest seasons. Topics discussed: • The Golden Bachelor • Bachelor in Paradise • Dating after 50 • Dating after widowhood • Grief and healing • Suicide loss survivor • Reinvention after 50 • Strength training for women • Aging with confidence • Mental health awareness • Finding purpose after loss Resources & Links: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline [https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/] Connect with Kathy Swarts: Instagram [https://instagram.com/kbswarts]

What If God Is Waiting for You to Call? Brandy Mussman on Prayer, Motherhood & Faith

Finding God When You Don’t Know Where to Start with Brandy Mussman How do you build a relationship with God when you didn’t grow up with a clear spiritual path? In this heartfelt episode of Over 50 Shades of Great, Deborah sits down with longtime friend, mother, wellness advocate, and spiritual mentor Brandy Mussman for a powerful conversation about faith, prayer, motherhood, emotional healing, and learning to trust the divine. As a new mother, Deborah shares her desire to create a spiritual foundation for her daughter while navigating her own evolving relationship with God. Together, she and Brandy explore how prayer can become a daily practice, why spirituality doesn’t require perfection, and how parents can introduce faith to their children through love, intention, and example. Brandy shares her personal journey of discovering prayer, how she prays over her daughters each day, and why she believes healing is an active pursuit that requires both self-awareness and faith. In this episode, we discuss: • How to start praying when you don’t know what to say• Developing a personal relationship with God• Praying for your children’s protection and guidance• Parenting with faith and intention• Emotional healing and releasing hidden blocks• Why healing is a lifelong journey• Finding peace during life’s uncertainties• The connection between faith, resilience, and personal growth Whether you’re a parent, exploring spirituality for the first time, or simply looking for more connection and meaning in your life, this conversation offers wisdom, encouragement, and hope. If you’ve ever wondered, “What if God is waiting for me to call?” this episode is for you.

Beyond the Gaze: The Untold Story Behind the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Filmmaker Jill Campbell joins Deborah for a deeply moving conversation about her documentary Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue. Jill shares the story of Jule Campbell, the groundbreaking woman behind the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and how she helped launch the supermodel era while navigating a male-dominated industry. This episode explores female legacy, creativity, documentary filmmaking, beauty, feminism, aging, mortality, and the power of women telling women’s stories. 🎧 New episode out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & YouTube. #Over50ShadesOfGreat #JillCampbell #BeyondTheGaze #JuleCampbell #SportsIllustratedSwimsuit #WomenInFilm #DocumentaryFilm #FemaleFilmmaker #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenOver50 #FemaleLegacy #Supermodels #Feminism #BeautyAndPower #PodcastEpisode @beyondthegazefilm [https://www.instagram.com/beyondthegazefilm/] jillaudreycampbell [https://www.instagram.com/jillaudreycampbell/#] @si_swimsuit [https://www.instagram.com/si_swimsuit/] https://linktr.ee/beyondthegaze_julecampbell?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c8569e3e-bf5c-4eac-9142-e0255e2d7a71 [https://linktr.ee/beyondthegaze_julecampbell?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=c8569e3e-bf5c-4eac-9142-e0255e2d7a71]

Best Fitness Over 50: Pilates, Strength Training & Hormones Explained | Viveca Jensen

What does it really take to feel strong, energized, and confident after 50? In this episode, Deborah is joined by Viveca Jensen to talk about fitness over 50, menopause, strength training, Pilates, and hormone health for women. Viveca shares why building muscle is critical for women in midlife, how Pilates supports strength and flexibility, and what every woman should know about hormones, metabolism, and aging. You’ll learn: * Why strength training helps prevent muscle loss after 40 and 50 * How to start lifting weights safely at home or in the gym * The truth about hormones, HRT, and energy levels * Why cardio + strength + mobility is the ideal combination * How to rebuild confidence in your body We also talk about dating, intimacy, and why this stage of life can be more powerful than ever. If you’ve been searching for: “how to feel better during menopause” “best workouts for women over 50” “how to gain strength and energy again” This episode is for you. Find Viveca : https://www.instagram.com/vivecajensen/ Staerk https://staerklife.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnCSMR9PpUgMYJBNMFhxfhQqDK2TfwH7tVp_w0_IfoZZC3MFpU4hVW-vilDYA_aem_byTUzpigO1UeIG75z9hrlQ

A Real Life Bachelorette?: Julie LaPlaca reveals what really happened

Julie LaPlaca has spent years producing love stories behind the scenes of The Bachelor franchise — but her most powerful story may be her own. In this heartfelt and funny conversation, Julie sits down with Deborah to talk about her new book, The Love Producer, her journey from reality TV producer to author, and what it really means to rewrite your own love story. Julie opens up about life inside the Bachelor bubble, producing some of the franchise’s biggest leads, almost becoming the Bachelorette herself, leaving a dream job to choose herself, and the spiritual awakening that followed. She also shares how heartbreak, hypnotherapy, ADHD, creativity, and deep inner work led her to launch her new path as “The Love Producer,” helping women become the leading ladies of their own lives. This episode is about love, reinvention, trusting your intuition, and realizing it’s never too late to pivot into the life you were meant to live. Follow Julie at https://www.instagram.com/julielaplaca/ Grab a copy of The Love Producer: My Unscripted Journey from a Reality TV Career to My Own Happily Ever After https://www.amazon.com/Love-Producer-Unscripted-Journey-Reality/dp/1637748868/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SUAI01IQP4EI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CkeS6hA-SqqotZ5aGPr67YCH14TskcyFrMO-rwsiNUWaKFM2uQRW1N6wLZ9ylNO27btE08gw6StwOVTLAopCrgjEptOn3-xnSgfp_spNCZ0.EJOL-BHUWqmlS-brzSRrPRkml3ojnzmp9CVGlfPOhEo&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+love+producer+book&qid=1777162608&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=the+love+produ%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1