In our culture, we love to talk about new beginnings. There's a lot of chatter around taking risks, taking a leap, going for it, embracing change. But what we don't talk about, enough, in my opinion, is endings. How we leave something helps define our path going forward. I've never been very good at endings. I'm kind of an Irish-goodbye type of person. I slip out the back door of a crowded party pretty often, which is no big deal. But in life's big moments-the end of a job, the end of a relationship, the end of a connnection to a community, we really need to examine and process the endings. If we don't, we are left in limbo despite our best efforts at blazing a new path.

In this final show for the year, I am sharing with you my feelings on this topic. It's just me and the mic, no guests, no hot button questions. I'm really just spitballing my thoughts as we end another year and dip our toes into the future. I'm guilty of not processing my endings well. I'm working on this, I really am.

This will be my last episode of AGELESS for now as I work on recharging my batteries and figuring out where to invest my precious time and energy. After 80 shows as a solo, independent podcaster I need to re-invest in the journey I am on to find passion, purpose, and most of all, clarity going forward.

Please continue to follow me and my work! I appreciate every single one of you who has listened to this podcast, all 12,000+ listeners.

Peace,

AMANDA LAMB

Joining me today is Sheronda Rochelle Blackburn. She describes herself as a deeply human guide for women in transition. After two decades leading legal strategy at global giants like Microsoft and JPMorgan Chase, she's turned her focus to something more personal—and more radical. She helps high-achieving women, especially those over 50, who are navigating reinvention to reimagine success on their own terms. Her approach blends legal precision with emotional depth, shaped by her own evolution and a lifetime of advocacy for equity, truth, and storytelling that heals. Sheronda calls it brand architecture, but what she builds is more like a home: a place where ambition softens, identity expands, and clarity replaces conformity. With a law degree, a Master of Fine Arts, and board service ranging from Doctors Without Borders to education equity, Sheronda brings both gravitas and warmth to the mic. Her work isn't about perfection; it's about getting real. This is the perfect episode to round out the year if you are seeking changes in your life in 2026!

To learn more about Sheronda:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheronda-rochelle-jd-mfa-371b1a5/

Jill Knight is many things—a talented photographer, a birth doula, the mother of four beautiful children, including one with special needs. And now, drum roll please, she is adding entrepreneur to her list with her newly launched personal branding company for women called The Luminary League. Jill is not in the 50+ club yet, but I made an exception for this show because her message and her mission are for women of all ages. Jill firmly embraces the idea that she learned from the women who came before her and they helped her clear the metaphorical trees off the path so to speak so that she could overcome previous trauma and become her best self. Now, she is hoping to share this journey with other women and help them find confidence and authentic connection through their own stories.

https://jillianknight.com/

We all have it to differing degrees, fear and anxiety. And whether we recognize it or not, it holds us back from achieving the things we really want to do in life. It keeps us from being our authentic selves. In this episode, coach Susanne Biro speaks about her own struggles with anxiety and depression. She shares how she learned to cope with them and offers advice for others who are experiencing these issues. Susanne teaches people to focus on their inner lives instead of worrying about what others are doing or what they think about us. Her simple, powerful tips will give you invaluable insight into how to walk through the world confidently, focusing on all the right things. This episode is not intended to be a substitute for seeking mental health support. If you, or someone you know, is in crisis, please reach out to a mental health professional. You can simply dial 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also text the word HOME to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor.

Susanne Biro | Leadership Coach

There's so much advice out there for women in midlife, it can be overwhelming. We're supposed to say "yes" to things that challenge us and scare us so that we can grow. Then, we're supposed to say "no" to anything that doesn't serve us and depletes our batteries. It's hard to figure out what the right path is when we get so many conflicting messages. In this episode, we talk to two women who have been doing the work, trying to figure out for themselves how to evolve into the next phase of their lives with purpose and honesty. They did what a lot of us do; they took a class, connected with other women, and formed a group to help them navigate the challenges that are inherent in any life transformation. Jodi Bradley and Amy Ginsburg share their personal transformation journeys with us and offer tangible ideas about how you can take your first steps on the path to living your best, authentic life.

Watch the interviews here on YouTube or listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts! https://AgelesswithAmandaLamb.libsyn.com/site

To learn more about Amy and Jodi:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodibradleyexpdesign/

https://www.instagram.com/jodibradleyart/

https://amyginsburgcoaching.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-ginsburg-6a56ba219/?msgControlName=view_message_button&msgConversationId=2-YzFjNjg5Y2MtNWQ0Mi00Yzg3LWJhYTgtZjk0NTQ0MDg4ZTliXzEwMA%3D%3D&msgOverlay=true

It sounds like a stereotype—women not being involved in the family finances, so much so that when something catastrophic happens, like a divorce or a death, they don't know where to turn. Surprisingly, many women are still in the dark when it comes to financial literacy, either because they're simply not interested, or they allow their partners to do the heavy lifting in this area. Even as the child of a divorce lawyer, you would think I would have taken the time to understand the financial world as a young adult. But, I actually didn't do it until I was forced to when my mother got sick and I had to handle everything from her personal finances to her business finances. In this episode, Wanda Cooper, who is an experienced financial advisor and a radio host of a show about financial literacy, gives us best tips on how to up your financial IQ and protect your future.

For more information:

https://www.frmnc.com/media/

Dating in midlife is not for the faint of heart. I've been listening to many friends over the past few years who found themselves suddenly single and decided to dip their toes into the dating pool again. Let's face it, a LOT has changed, including how we meet the people we date. Most of these meetings happen online, a place where it's easy to deceive others into thinking that you are someone you are not. Often, when the date does show up in person after an online courtship, women realize this man was not who he said he was. In short, women in midlife must kiss a lot of frogs on their way to finding their prince, if they're even looking for a prince, that is. In this episode, I speak with two savvy midlife daters who share their journey to love and everything in between. From the fuzzy online profile pictures men post on dating apps, to profile pictures taken in bed or in bathrooms, to men who post edicts about how much makeup a woman should wear, my guests break down their hilarious journeys in the midlife dating pool.

I'm so excited to share my new thriller novel with you. It is set in the North Carolina mountains and follows the point of views of four characters as they unravel the mystery surrounding a missing hiker in the deadly terrain. This is a completely new set of characters from my previous murder mystery series. But like my previous fiction, the main character is a crime journalist who can't walk away from the tug of case once it gets in her head. My plan is that "Whispers on the Mountain" will be the first in a new ficton series. This is my thirteenth book. To learn more about the book and how to order it see the link below!

Whispers on the Mountain - Torchflame Books

If you're a parent, you know the drill—shuttling your kids to and from activities after school and on weekends. Whether they're involved in sports or creative pursuits like dance or theater, you're their guide, their constant companion, their rock, and their safety net. We do it all out of love, but sometimes the demands can be even bigger than we imagined. Take young performers, for instance. Parenting a budding professional musician elevates these demands to a whole new level. Today, we're chatting with a mother-daughter duo who transformed an 11-year-old girl's passion for writing music in her bedroom into a thriving career in Nashville. Linda Hatala isn't your average "momager" to her singer daughter, Brooke Hatala. Tune in to learn what it takes to support a rising star while letting her shine bright.

LINKS:

(1248) Brooke Hatala - YouTube(1248) Somewhere Blue - YouTube

https://open.spotify.com/artist/00NFH1n7RZC9J8YnHkhL2w?si=FkPu4pBNQfqpiR8BSXzzsA https://open.spotify.com/artist/5fLdBbgZlvxbsnOnZId2xT?si=WUVi1oShTWKr77lewoFuQw

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/somewherebluemusic/

Music — Brooke Hatala

As women, we're always looking for ways to update our style, to add more creativity and more fun to our looks and our lives. Our style is more than just the picture we show the outside world; it's a reflection of who we are and who we are becoming. This is especially critical for women in midlife when we are seeking ways to redefine ourselves. Something as simple as embracing small style changes can help us on this journey to becoming our authentic selves. A big part of this style transformation is how we use accessories—specifically jewelry-to make a statement about who we are. In this episode, we speak to a rising star in the jewelry making world, Kenda Kistenmacher, owner and creator of Kenda Kist Jewelry, who gives us tips on how accessories can make your look pop. But Kenda isn't just an artist, she is also someone who believes deeply in mentoring young women in her industry and aligning her values with her work.

Kenda Kist Jewelry

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