Fire Up at 55 Plus

Habits 2.0 could have been the title of last week’s episode where you learned how to take the wisdom of such small-steps advocates as James Clear, author of Atomic Habits. With the new super-tool, The Progress Principle by researcher Teresa Amabile, you discovered how your deep emotions fuel your path through the discomfort of change to sustainable actions. Today I elaborate what that means for future you—the midlife you who embrac...

In a world obsessed with big leaps, it’s time to rid yourself of that compulsion. For lasting midlife reinvention, radical change is not the prescription. Do not, I repeat, do not, dive into a perfectionist's pool spilling over with too many new habits. There’s nothing wrong with big dreams and desires, but there’s a lot wrong with a massive attempt to achieve them. Today you’ll hear the proven, effective way to get going on y...

Today we’re talking 15 minutes that ignite your soul and energize your day—not mani-pedi’s, not baths, but real-deal habits that fuel your body and mind. Yep, when the hustle-bustle of August transition from vacation to your back-to-Fall “regular” life sends your mind spinning, avoid the multi-tasking trap with proven self-support. Listen up and choose one of these self-helpers next time you really need it.

To reclaim your potential...

Last year this episode aired in September, but as August is the true pedal to the metal moment for fresh-start Fall, a.k.a. back-to-school fall, this is the time to hear it. Ah … those feelings: your dominant, real, authentic feelings … They are the clues to what’s going on with you, from elation to depression to confusion. And I can’t think of a better example or time of year to talk about this, using what most of us have heard of...

Why are you listening? … Because you’ve been longing and waiting for change in your life. Eager to realize your potential and primed to get going for transformation to move into your best life ever at midlife-plus. So, kudos to you for recognizing your desire and readiness to act upon it. We know that passing through true change includes some discomfort; that is proven. However sometimes “discomfort” doesn’t adequately describe the...

I still get a lot of comments on this early Fire-Up episode and, of course, its title: How a Beer Changed My Calendar and My Life. It’s the true story of how a simple, even somewhat silly, moment caught me by surprise and a light bulb went off. (If you’re not in your car) grab a beer or beverage of choice, put your feet up, and hear how a long-held perception and preference was busted and then burst into new understanding of the ch...

Here’s the challenge: So many women in midlife hit a wall, wondering “Is it too late to become who I hoped I’d be? … Have I lost touch with the ‘real me’?” Surprise! Sometimes you need a break from pushing forward for life transformation and, instead, reach back. Get curious and be excited as you discover this unique way to draw upon your old story to create your new one of transformation in your “second act” of life.

To reclaim you...

What are your summer memories? … The ones that stick because they make you smile, chasing away stress, and so real that you can almost feel the moments: from running on concrete with slapping bare feet, to the juicy taste of watermelon, to the pop and shimmer of fireworks in the nighttime skies. The episode that follows is no. 15 from my first weeks of podcasting for you two years ago. Listening invites joyful recollections of summ...

Today you’ll be inspired to break the “good girl” rules you have outgrown at midlife-plus, along with permission you always deserved but never received. Say “No,” to dusty expectations and “Hell Yes,” to unapologetic joy. And get ready for five surprising stories, five fierce women, and five quotes that will make you laugh, cry, and say, “I want what she’s having!”

To reclaim your potential now and reach for whatever midlife-plus go...

In Part One, we explored how the old model of stress was built on shaky science, and how new research gives us permission to use stress as power. Not to pretend it’s fun, but to own it as fuel. Because this is your midlife season to rise, to speak up, to take up space—not shrink to survive, let’s write a new ending to stress all around.

To reclaim your potential and reach for whatever midlife-plus goal means the most to you with les...

Feeling stressed out? Well, of course you are, but believe it or not that’s not always a bad thing. Midlife women do report the highest levels of daily stress compared to all other demographic groups according to the American Psychological Association. That includes caregiving responsibilities, health concerns, financial transitions, and age discrimination in work and healthcare. But don’t panic—we’re here to problem solve. Stress ...

If life feels uncertain at 55-plus, you’re not in a midlife crisis … you’re in transition. Every great heroine has a turning point in their story of you. Your next chapter starts the minute you shun stereotypes of what it means to age. Midlife crisis, invisibility, giving in to the demands or expectations of others … well, it’s high time to pivot, put yourself first and do it in a way that honors how you want to show up for yoursel...

Moving out of a stagnated story can be desirable and daunting as you move into midlife and then beyond. When you yearn for more, figuring out exactly what “more” means to you, can be elusive. If putting everyone else first has been a lifelong, ingrained habit, by definition, your desires have been last. For many of us who learned early on to tamp down our wants, and dreams, being seen and not heard and deferring to our elders and a...

Today we pick up your 2025 story of renewal following a story of my own from last week where the recurring theme was kindness. Today I also complete the story of kind inspiration I received from the youngest wise ones in my life. Discover in today’s episode the real evidence of how kindness—observed, appreciated, and practiced—truly factors in to a transformed and best life ever in your 50s and beyond!

To reclaim your potential and ...

Who would’ve thought a 100th Podcast Episode would not feature any of the expected milestone moments during two years of broadcasts? No roundup of wise quotes, advice from guest experts, or list of topics that resonated most with listeners.

I sure didn’t see this one coming, but this story feels just right to mark the 100th Fire-Up! episode. It feels like time now, after a couple of months, for me to heart-fully share an astounding ...

Following up on the seasonal reset wisdom for shedding pounds in last week’s broadcast, here’s the “dish” on getting started and getting it done, now! Why wait when you can step into solid, scientific, and simple actions to set you up for an energetic summer with doable fitness and diet-no-more freedom? Listen up for a short list to get you going!

To start shedding pounds now by working individually with certified weight loss coach ...

Shedding pounds to keep the fun in your summer vs. a season of no-fun dieting thoughts and old-style deprivation, listen here to board certified weight loss and medicine specialist and certified life coach Lisa Oldson, MD. As an absolute favorite among my podcast guests, I couldn’t approach my 100th episode without nodding to Dr. Lisa’s wisdom and sharing it with you once again. This episode originally aired at “back to school” tim...

In this episode, we’ll explore practical, actionable steps to transform how you view yourself and your abilities and then approach the things that truly matter to you. People-pleasing is just one piece of the puzzle that may have held you back from living your best lives. New boundaries, new feelings, and most of all—new actions, will take you off of the back-burner into a fired-up life—yes, at any age!

Resources:
To work with C...

Today we break free from the confines of people-pleasing—a completely understandable but insidious, hideous habit over time that most women of our era developed from the outdated rule books of our past. Last episode, where top problems, a.k.a. “pain points” were examined, we identified the origins of our people-pleasing tendencies. We began to understand where it came from in our earliest girlhood. But today we focus on a reliable ...