S2: E2 Who Are You Without the Labels? Midlife Identity & Life Transitions w/ Dr Aruna Liyanage

S2E8: The Impact-Health Balance: Redefining Wealth in Midlife with Belinda Smith

What if true wealth wasn’t measured by money, but by your health, relationships, purpose, and wellbeing? In this deeply grounding episode of Vitalify Unplugged, hosts Gry Stene and Steph Liyanage sit down with children’s health advocate and food literacy strategist Belinda Smith to explore the powerful connection between impact, nourishment, purpose, and sustainable wellbeing. Belinda shares her journey advocating for children’s health through food literacy, the realities of purpose-led work, and the lessons she’s learned about balancing contribution with self-care — especially in midlife. Together, they unpack the idea that making a meaningful difference doesn’t have to come at the expense of your health. IN THIS EPISODE: * Food literacy and its impact on children’s health * Why “food is information” for the body and brain * Burnout, purpose, and redefining success in midlife * Balancing meaningful work with personal wellbeing * The tension between passion, impact, and income * Wealth integrity and sustainable contribution * Why small actions at home matter deeply * Nourishment beyond food: relationships, rest, and connection * Living unplugged and reconnecting with yourself MEMORABLE QUOTES: “Food is information for our body and brain.” — Belinda Smith “Your health is your true wealth.” — Belinda Smith “Impact and health can go hand in hand.” — Belinda Smith RESOURCES & MENTIONS: * Belinda Smith Website [https://bellsmith.com.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * The Root Cause [https://therootcause.com.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Brené Brown [https://brenebrown.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Zach Bush MD [https://zachbushmd.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] CONNECT WITH BELINDA SMITH: * Website [https://bellsmith.com.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindasmith/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] CONNECT WITH US: * Vitalify Unplugged Podcast [https://www.instagram.com/vitalityunpluggedpodcast/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Steph Liyanage – Magnetik Mumma [https://www.instagram.com/magnetikmumma/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Gry Stene [https://www.grystene.rocks/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Gry Stene on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/grystene/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs permission to slow down, reconnect, and remember that purpose and wellbeing can coexist. Stay curious. Stay connected. Keep living unplugged

S2:E7 What If Your Body Isn’t Broken? The Midlife Wake-Up Every One Needs With Karen Kohler-Sergeant

What if midlife wasn’t the beginning of decline… but the beginning of a deeper relationship with your body? In this episode of Vitalify Unplugged, we sit down with Karen Kohler-Sergeant—athlete, health coach, and founder of Buncho Momentum—to explore what’s really possible for women in midlife and beyond. From hormones and inflammation to movement, mindset, self-trust, and sustainable vitality, Karen shares how tiny shifts can create extraordinary change. IN THIS EPISODE, WE EXPLORE: • Karen’s personal health wake-up call at 35 • How nutrition transformed her energy, pain, and performance • Why women are taught to fear aging • The connection between inflammation, hormones, and midlife vitality • Resistance training, bone health, and injury prevention • Why your comfort zone may actually be your “familiar pain zone” • Learning to work with your brain instead of against it • Tiny sustainable habits that create long-term transformation • What it means to treat your body as a partner, not a problem TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome + introducing Karen 01:40 – Karen’s health turning point 05:50 – Skijoring, dogs, and world championship competition 10:05 – What wealth means beyond money 11:40 – Midlife as an invitation, not decline 13:15 – The fears women carry around aging 17:10 – The stories society teaches us about getting older 20:05 – Hormones, energy, recovery, and midlife changes 25:05 – Pain, inflammation, and body awareness 30:10 – Healthy habits without punishment 34:30 – Data, intuition, and listening to your body 39:00 – Why women outsource their health 42:00 – Tiny steps and rewiring the brain 46:00 – Movement that matters most in midlife 52:40 – What’s still possible after 50 56:00 – Treating your body as your best friend 59:10 – What living unplugged means CONNECT WITH KAREN Buncho Momentum info@bunchomomentum.com [info@bunchomomentum.com] If this conversation resonated, share it with someone who needs the reminder that midlife can be your strongest chapter yet. Stay curious. Stay connected. Keep living unplugged.

S2:E6 Intimacy, Cancer & Confidence: How Women Reclaim Their Bodies and Voice with Felicia Linsky

What happens to intimacy, confidence, and identity when a woman moves through illness, aging, and life’s unexpected pivots? In this deeply honest and empowering conversation, Felicia shares her journey through multiple cancer diagnoses, body changes, and profound personal transformation — and how it led her back to pleasure, embodiment, and self-trust. This episode explores what so many women quietly navigate: * Feeling disconnected from their bodies * Losing confidence in midlife * Struggling with intimacy after illness or stress * Performing life instead of actually living it Felicia invites us into a different way — one rooted in self-ownership, safety, and radical honesty. This is a conversation about moving from survival mode to full aliveness — and remembering that pleasure, connection, and confidence are not luxuries… they are part of your wellbeing. This episode is for women who are: * Navigating midlife, perimenopause, or menopause * Healing after illness, burnout, or major life transitions * Feeling disconnected from their body, identity, or intimacy * Ready to reclaim their confidence, voice, and sense of self EPISODE CHAPTERS  00:00 – Intimacy in Midlife: What Changes and Why 38:39 – How Intimacy Evolves Over Time 41:37 – Body Image, Aging & Self-Acceptance 44:02 – Cancer, Health & Identity Shifts 46:31 – Why Safety Is the Foundation of Intimacy 49:14 – Consent, Boundaries & Self-Trust 51:44 – Rebuilding Trust in Your Body 54:18 – The Power of Female Connection 01:00:09 – Authenticity vs Societal Expectations 01:02:54 – Generational Shifts in Women’s Lives 01:05:43 – Reconnecting with Confidence & Self 01:12:01 – Reclaiming Your Voice 01:13:18 – The Cost of Ignoring Your Inner Voice 01:16:43 – Self-Ownership & Personal Power If this episode resonated with you, share it with a woman who needs to hear this conversation. And if you’re ready to reconnect with your body, your voice, and your sense of self — this is your invitation to begin. RESOURCES * Felicia Linsky Website: https://felicialynaski.com/https://www.felicialinsky.com [https://www.felicialinsky.com] https://www.felicialinsky.com/reclaim-your-radiance [https://www.felicialinsky.com/reclaim-your-radiance] https://www.felicialinsky.com/shop [https://www.felicialinsky.com/shop] If you’re ready to redefine what wealth means in your life, this is your invitation to start listening inward. 🔹 Gry – Author, Speaker & Tech Whisperer grystene.rocks [http://grystene.rocks] | Health Scan Gry’s Book: https://fullthrottleandtorque.com/fullthrottleandtorque.com [http://fullthrottleandtorque.com] 🔹 Steph – Holistic RN & MagnetiK Mumma magnetikhealth.com [http://magnetikhealth.com] | Substack 📩 Steph@MagnetiKHealth.com [Steph@MagnetiKHealth.com] 📩 VitalifyUnplugged@gmail.com [VitalifyUnplugged@gmail.com]

S2:E5 Belonging Without Agreement: How to Stay Connected Without Losing Yourself in Midlife

SUMMARY BELONGING IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEED — BUT IN MIDLIFE, IT CAN FEEL MORE COMPLEX. In this episode, Steph Liyanage and Gry Stene speak with Renee Knapp about belonging in midlife, relationships after 40, and staying connected without people-pleasing or losing yourself. They explore: * Why belonging matters for wellbeing * How midlife shifts identity and connection * Fitting in vs true belonging * Navigating conversations with curiosity * Boundaries, rupture, and repair * Community as support * Rebuilding connection when feeling isolated Renee shares stories from education, motherhood, and community work — showing how connection shapes how we live and cope. If you’ve ever wondered “Where do I belong now?” — this conversation will meet you there. KEY TOPICS * Belonging as a core need * Connection and mental health * Midlife identity shifts * Belonging vs fitting in * Belonging without agreement * Curiosity in conversations * Boundaries and repair * Community as medicine * Rebuilding connection * Relational wealth GUEST NAME Renee Knapp Community Wellbeing Strategist | Educator | Founder of Think Effective Consultancy SOUND BITES * “Belonging is not a one-size-fits-all.” * “We don’t always recognise belonging until it’s gone.” * “Connection shapes behaviour and wellbeing.” * “True belonging is being accepted for who you are.” * “If you’re shrinking to belong — it’s not real belonging.” * “Community is the missing piece in mental health.” CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome & introduction 02:30 What is belonging — and why it matters 07:30 Renee’s story: community and change 15:30 Belonging and mental health 23:00 Disconnection and coping 39:00 Belonging without agreement 47:00 Difficult conversations 52:00 Boundaries and repair 56:00 Community as medicine 1:00:00 Rebuilding belonging RESOURCES * Think Effective Consultancy (Renee Knapp) * Community Wellbeing Changemaker Membership WHERE DO YOU TRULY FEEL LIKE YOU BELONG? Where might you be shrinking or staying silent to stay connected? Share your reflections — or send this to someone who needs to feel seen. Due to a technical issue, the final moments of this conversation Steph’s software cut off — but the heart of the message remains with Gry & Renee. CONNECT WITH US 🔹 Gry – Author, Speaker & Tech Whisperer grystene.rocks [http://grystene.rocks] | Health Scan Gry’s Book: fullthrottleandtorque.com [http://fullthrottleandtorque.com] 🔹 Steph – Holistic RN & MagnetiK Mumma Nervous System Reset For Parents [https://magnetikmumma.com/thenervoussystemresetforparents] magnetikhealth.com [http://magnetikhealth.com] | Substack 📩 Email: Steph@MagnetiKHealth.com [Steph@MagnetiKHealth.com] 🧬 Zinzino Health Tools: zinzino.com [http://zinzino.com] 📩 Contact us: VitalifyUnplugged@gmail.com [VitalifyUnplugged@gmail.com] ----------------------------------------

S2: E4 What Happens When You Finally Have Time? Midlife, Purpose & Redefining Wealth After 50

SUMMARY Retirement isn’t just freedom — it can also feel like losing structure, identity, and purpose. In this episode, Steph Liyanage and Gry Stene speak with Anita Spurling about what really happens when life slows down in midlife. They explore the hidden challenges of retirement, the pressure of productivity culture, and why having more time doesn’t always feel as easy as we expect. They dive into: * The emotional reality of retiring and losing work identity * Why busyness is wired into how we measure worth * How to rebuild purpose, rhythm, and meaning after work * The importance of community, connection, and contribution * Why time is one of the most valuable forms of wealth Anita shares how she reinvented her life through community, volunteering, and rediscovering what truly matters — offering a powerful perspective on positive ageing and living with intention. If you’re navigating midlife, burnout, career change, or wondering what comes next — this conversation will meet you there. ---------------------------------------- KEY TOPICS * What happens when work and structure disappear in midlife * Retirement and identity loss: “you are who you work” * The discomfort of slowing down after a busy life * Redefining wealth beyond money and productivity * Time as a form of wealth and freedom * Reinvention, hobbies, and rediscovering purpose * Community, volunteering, and connection as meaning * The pressure of busyness and achievement * Positive ageing and designing a new life rhythm * Finding joy, contribution, and fulfilment beyond work ---------------------------------------- GUEST NAME Anita Spurling ---------------------------------------- SOUND BITES * “What now?” * “You are who you work.” * “Retirement is a full-time job.” * “People actually need people.” * “Time is one of the most valuable forms of wealth.” * “We don’t need more stuff — we need more connection.” ---------------------------------------- CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome & introduction 03:20 Life after retirement: what now? 11:00 Redefining wealth beyond money 14:40 Identity, work, and midlife transitions 22:15 Reinvention through connection and community 27:50 Time, purpose, and designing a new rhythm 34:00 The importance of connection post-COVID 40:50 Finding purpose beyond work 48:00 Consumerism vs meaningful living 56:50 Mindfulness and living unplugged ---------------------------------------- REFLECTION If your life suddenly slowed down… who would you be without the busyness? What would you choose to do with your time? Share your reflections with us — or send this episode to someone navigating a big life transition. ---------------------------------------- 🔹 Gry – Author, Speaker & Tech Whisperer grystene.rocks [http://grystene.rocks] | Health Scan 🔹 Steph – Holistic RN & MagnetiK Mumma Nervous System Reset For Parents [https://magnetikmumma.com/thenervoussystemresetforparents] magnetikhealth.com [http://magnetikhealth.com] | Substack 📩 Email: Steph@MagnetiKHealth.com [Steph@MagnetiKHealth.com] 🧬 Zinzino Health Tools: zinzino.com [http://zinzino.com] 📩 Contact us: VitalifyUnplugged@gmail.com [VitalifyUnplugged@gmail.com] ----------------------------------------