Coffee and Tea with CarrieVee

What if personal growth isn't about becoming someone new? What if it's about reclaiming the parts of yourself you've lost along the way?

In this deeply personal episode of Coffee and Tea with CarrieVee, CarrieVee returns to the microphone to share an important reminder: Growth can mean returning, not just becoming.

Life has a way of scattering pieces of who we are. Between personal loss, health challenges, career demands, family responsibilities, and the overwhelming noise of the world, it's easy to lose touch with the routines, passions, and little moments that once made us feel like ourselves.

CarrieVee opens up about her own journey through grief, broken bones, cancer, major surgeries, and the physical and emotional challenges that followed. She reflects on how these experiences gradually pulled her away from a morning routine she once loved and how she's learning to reclaim herself, one small piece at a time.

Using the analogy of a scattered jigsaw puzzle, CarrieVee reminds us that we don't have to rebuild everything overnight. Sometimes, reclaiming just one piece is enough to begin moving forward.

1. Growth Can Mean Returning, Not Just Becoming

Personal growth isn't always about chasing the next goal or creating a new version of yourself. Sometimes it's about reconnecting with the passions, habits, and qualities that once brought you joy. Shifting your focus from what you've lost to what you still have can help you begin that journey.

2. Even a Little Piece Counts

You don't have to put the entire puzzle back together today. Read one page. Journal for two minutes. Spend a few moments doing something you love. Small, intentional actions add up to meaningful transformation.

3. You're Allowed to Want Things for Yourself

Taking time for yourself isn't selfish. Whether it's a pedicure, reading a book, resting, or returning to a favorite hobby, you deserve moments that are just for you. Reclaiming your time is part of reclaiming your confidence, energy, and sense of self.

Your Journal Prompt

What is one part of yourself—a passion, a goal, a habit, or a way of being—that has gotten lost in the shuffle?

What did it give you, and what would it look like to reclaim even a small piece of it this week?

Your challenge: Give yourself 15 minutes this week to reconnect with that part of you. You can take those minutes all at once or break them into smaller moments. Notice how you feel afterward.

In This Episode, You'll Discover

• Why personal growth doesn't always require a brand-new goal
• How grief, health challenges, and life transitions can change our sense of identity
• Why an all-or-nothing mindset can keep us from moving forward
• How small acts of self-care can restore confidence and energy
• The importance of honoring your needs while pursuing personal and professional growth
• How reclaiming one small piece of yourself can create meaningful momentum

Remember: You don't have to become someone entirely new to grow. Sometimes, you simply need to remember who you are and begin taking those pieces back.

Connect with CarrieVee

CarrieVee would love to hear your story and learn which piece of yourself you're reclaiming.

Book a Discovery Call with CarrieVee:
https://schedulewithcarrievee.as.me/?appointmentType=12343596

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Visit CarrieVee's website to connect, explore her work, or inquire about a DISC profile.

www.carrievee.com
[email protected]
IG:  @iamcarrievee 
TT:  @carrievee2022
FB:  Carrie Verrocchio
LI:  Carrie Verrocchio 

Have you ever looked at an opportunity and thought:

Maybe someday.

Maybe when you have more money.
 Maybe when your schedule settles down.
 Maybe when you know someone there.
 Maybe when you're more qualified.
 Maybe when you're finally ready.

CarrieVee wants you to stop waiting.

In this episode of Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie shares the story of walking into her very first International Maxwell Conference completely alone. She didn't know anyone. She wasn't sure exactly what to expect. She didn't have guarantees that the experience would be worth the time, money, or effort.

But she knew one thing:

She needed to be in that room.

And being in that room changed the trajectory of her life. 

This episode is about the power of your environment, the people you surround yourself with, and the rooms you choose to enter.

Because sometimes the thing standing between you and your next level isn't a lack of ability.

It's that you're standing in the wrong room.

In This Episode, CarrieVee Talks About:

Your environment is your destiny.

The people around you influence your thinking, your expectations, your goals, and ultimately your behavior. Carrie challenges listeners to examine the five people they spend the most time with—and asks whether those people are helping them move forward or keeping them comfortable. 

Stop waiting for the perfect time.

The perfect time doesn't exist. There will always be a reason to wait: money, timing, family, work, uncertainty, fear.

Carrie shares how her parents taught her an important lesson growing up: if something mattered enough, they found a way to make it happen. That mindset has stayed with her. 

Get in the room—even when you're uncomfortable.

Your room might be a conference, mastermind, workshop, networking group, community, retreat, or gathering of people pursuing the same things you are.

And you don't have to know anyone before you go.

You just have to show up.

Carrie explains that she continues attending the International Maxwell Conference even when she's heard some of the content before because the value isn't only in what she learns. It's in who she's surrounded by. 

Stop complaining and start growing.

Complaining is comfortable. Growth isn't.

Carrie challenges listeners to pay attention to their language. Are you spending more time talking about what's wrong—or talking about what's possible? Are you looking for solutions or collecting evidence for why something can't work?

Book a Discovery Call with CarrieVee:

https://schedulewithcarrievee.as.me/?appointmentType=12343596

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement: https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Connect with CarrieVee:

www.carrievee.com

[email protected]

IG: @iamcarrievee 

TT: @carrievee2022

FB: Carrie Verrocchio

LI: Carrie Verrocchio 

Episode's Publish Date:

2026-08-11T04:00:00-04:00

What if the thing holding you back isn't your schedule, your age, or even your circumstances?

What if it's a barrier you can't even see?

This week on Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie welcomes back bestselling author, fitness expert, and midlife coach Heike Yates for another powerful conversation inspired by her book, Pursue Your Spark. Together, they unpack one of the biggest reasons women feel stuck in midlife—not because they lack discipline or motivation, but because invisible barriers quietly shape their decisions without them realizing it.

From limiting beliefs and outdated identities to stress, overwhelm, and unhealed emotional wounds, Carrie and Heike explore how the stories we carry can keep us from moving forward—even when we're doing "all the right things."

If you've ever felt like you're working hard but not making progress, this episode will help you identify what may really be standing in your way. 

In This Episode

•  Why mindset is often more important than fitness or nutrition 
•  The invisible barriers that quietly sabotage progress 
•  How old identities can prevent new opportunities 
•  Why doing more isn't always the answer 
•  The connection between stress, cortisol, and physical health 
•  How emotional healing impacts your ability to move forward 
•  Why paying attention is the first step toward lasting change 
•  Learning to replace self-judgment with curiosity 
•  The importance of taking one small step instead of trying to change everything at once 
•  How clarity creates freedom and momentum

Helping Midlife Women Move Forward Again

Many midlife women aren’t starting from scratch — they’re navigating seasons where what once worked no longer fits.

I help women move out of the start-over cycle and rebuild strength, energy, and confidence with realistic fitness, nutrition, and mindset strategies that support real life.

I know what it feels like to juggle work, motherhood, and identity while wondering if you’ll ever feel like yourself again. At one point, I was a single mom raising two kids on $300 a month, working long hours and trying to hold everything together.

Fitness became my lifeline — the one thing that helped me feel strong, resilient, and hopeful when life felt heavy.

Over the past 35+ years, that lifeline became my mission. I’ve helped thousands of midlife women move out of the start-over cycle and find an approach that finally works for their body and their life.

Here’s what I believe:

Midlife isn’t a decline — it’s your turning point.
You don’t need extremes — just small steps that fit your life.
And with the right support, you can feel capable, clear, and strong at any age.
If you’re ready to stop starting over and finally find an approach that works for your body and your life, you’re in the right place.

Get Heike's book: https://amzn.to/4tBvoGp
https://heikeyates.com/

other episodes with Heike Yates:
Midlife Moments With Heike Yates:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-and-tea-with-carrievee/id1514671446?i=1000768689467

Pursue Your Spark with Heike Yates:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-and-tea-with-carrievee/id1514671446?i=1000760004906


Book a Discovery Call with CarrieVee:
https://schedulewithcarrievee.as.me/?appointmentType=12343596

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Connect with CarrieVee:
www.carrievee.com
[email protected]
IG:  @iamcarrievee 
TT:  @carrievee2022
FB:  Carrie Verrocchio
LI:  Carrie Verrocchio 

What if the biggest thing holding you back today… isn't your ability?

What if it's a story you've been carrying for decades?

In this honest and surprisingly funny episode of Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie shares an unexpected childhood story involving fried eggs, older brothers, and a Korean restaurant that led to one of the biggest mindset breakthroughs she's had in years.

Because this episode isn't really about eggs.

It's about the invisible rules we continue to live by long after they've stopped serving us.

How many decisions are you making today because of something that happened when you were ten years old?

How many dreams, opportunities, conversations, or risks are still sitting on your personal "No-Fly List"?

It's time to find out.

In This Episode, Carrie Discusses:

•  The childhood experience that made her avoid fried eggs for over 50 years 
•  Why our brains create protective stories—and why they don't always update 
•  The surprising lesson learned over lunch at a Korean restaurant 
•  How childhood experiences quietly become lifelong limiting beliefs 
•  Why many of our fears began as survival strategies 
•  The difference between protection and limitation 
•  Why growth often means questioning old beliefs instead of learning new ones 
•  Giving yourself permission to rewrite outdated stories 
•  How curiosity can replace fear and open new possibilities 
•  Identifying what's still on your own personal "No-Fly List"

Book a Discovery Call with CarrieVee:

https://schedulewithcarrievee.as.me/?appointmentType=12343596

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement: https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Connect with CarrieVee:

www.carrievee.com

[email protected]

IG: @iamcarrievee 

TT: @carrievee2022

FB: Carrie Verrocchio

LI: Carrie Verrocchio 

What if one of the strongest things you could ever do… was admit that you're hurting?

In this deeply personal episode of Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie shares a story she has never publicly told before—a moment that has stayed with her for more than twenty years. After donating a kidney to save her father's life, she found herself doubled over in pain in a hospital hallway, apologizing for being "weak." What happened next changed her perspective decades later.

This episode isn't built around a five-step framework or leadership strategy. Instead, it's an honest conversation about strength, vulnerability, and why so many of us believe we have to suffer silently.

If you've ever minimized your pain, apologized for needing help, or believed that showing emotion made you weak, this conversation is for you.

Strength doesn't mean you never cry.

Real strength isn't pretending you're okay.

Real strength is making the courageous decision, showing up anyway, and allowing yourself to be honest about the cost.

Journal Prompt

Where have you been doubled over in your own hallway, apologizing for needing help?

Connect with CarrieVee

Book a Discovery Call with CarrieVee:
https://schedulewithcarrievee.as.me/?appointmentType=12343596

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Connect with CarrieVee:
www.carrievee.com
[email protected]
IG:  @iamcarrievee 
TT:  @carrievee2022
FB:  Carrie Verrocchio
LI:  Carrie Verrocchio 

Are you struggling with confidence?

What if the problem isn't actually your confidence at all?

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie explores a truth that has transformed her own life: most of us don't have a confidence problem—we have a thought management problem. 

From replaying conversations from years ago to overthinking every decision, text message, and interaction, many of us spend so much time living inside our heads that we stop fully participating in our actual lives.

Carrie shares practical tools for understanding emotions, interrupting negative thought patterns, and building authentic confidence through action—not perfection.

In This Episode, Carrie Discusses:

•  Why most people don't actually have a confidence problem 
•  The difference between emotional health and emotional control 
•  Why you are not your emotions—you simply experience them 
•  How emotional patterns are learned and can be unlearned 
•  The "trigger → thought → emotion → reaction" cycle 
•  Why the greatest power exists in managing your thoughts 
•  The truth about confidence and why we've been taught it backward 
•  How confidence is built through action, not waiting 
•  Carrie's personal journey through cancer, surgery, weight changes, and rebuilding confidence 
•  Why showing up imperfectly creates authentic confidence 
•  Three practical tools to shift your thinking immediately 
•  How to stop living in mental loops and start living fully 

Three Tools to Shift Your Thinking

1. Name It

•  What am I actually feeling right now? 

2. Check the Thought

•  Is this thought helping me or hurting me? 

3. Choose on Purpose

•  What would the confident version of me do here?

Book a Discovery Call with CarrieVee:
https://schedulewithcarrievee.as.me/?appointmentType=12343596

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Join the Confidence and Clarity Membership!  https://carrievee.com/confidence-clarity-1

Connect with CarrieVee:
www.carrievee.com
[email protected]
IG:  @iamcarrievee 
TT:  @carrievee2022
FB:  Carrie Verrocchio
LI:  Carrie Verrocchio 

What if confidence doesn't actually decline as we age?

What if, instead, confidence becomes clearer, quieter, and more authentic?

In this deeply personal episode of Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie reflects on what confidence looked like in her younger years, how it evolved through grief, caregiving, menopause, and life's hardest seasons, and why the most powerful confidence often arrives later in life. 

Carrie explores the freedom that comes with releasing the need for approval, embracing authenticity, and finally stepping into the purpose you were always meant to live.

This episode is for every woman who has ever felt the pressure to stay young, be agreeable, avoid conflict, shrink herself, or earn her worth through performance.

In This Episode, Carrie Discusses:

•  Why society teaches women to fear aging 
•  The hidden freedom that comes with getting older 
•  How confidence changes from performance to authenticity 
•  Why women spend decades shape-shifting to gain approval 
•  The impact of perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause on identity and confidence 
•  Why grief and life experience reshape our priorities 
•  The difference between being kind and abandoning yourself 
•  How confidence evolves from "Look at me" to "I know who I am" 
•  The dangers of seeking validation through appearance and approval 
•  Why authentic relationships require difficult conversations 
•  The pressure social media places on women to remain forever young 
•  How to embrace your body with gratitude rather than criticism 
•  Why true confidence is about freedom, not attention 
•  The importance of helping younger women develop authentic confidence now

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Join the Confidence and Clarity Membership!  https://carrievee.com/confidence-clarity-1

Connect with CarrieVee:
www.carrievee.com
[email protected]
IG:  @iamcarrievee 
TT:  @carrievee2022
FB:  Carrie Verrocchio
LI:  Carrie Verrocchio 

Why is it so hard to say no?

In this powerful episode of Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie sits down with speaker, entrepreneur, and author Danny M. Goldberg to tackle one of the biggest struggles facing leaders, parents, professionals, and caregivers: setting boundaries and learning to say no. 

Danny shares his personal journey from lifelong people-pleaser to someone who discovered that being "nice" isn't always healthy—and that true confidence often begins with protecting your time, energy, and self-worth.

This conversation is honest, funny, challenging, and filled with practical wisdom for anyone who has ever said "yes" when they desperately wanted to say "no."

In This Episode, We Discuss:

•  The critical difference between being nice and being kind
•  Why people-pleasers often lose their sense of identity 
•  How failing to set boundaries damages relationships 
•  Why respect matters more than being liked 
•  The connection between boundaries and self-confidence 
•  How to know when it's time to say no 
•  Why over-explaining your decisions weakens your boundaries 
•  The importance of teaching boundaries to our children 
•  How saying yes to one thing often means saying no to something more important 
•  Why successful people become increasingly protective of their time 
•  The difference between confidence and arrogance 
•  How taking risks builds confidence and personal growth 

Danny M. Goldberg is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and author of the leadership
book “A Little Bit Asshole.” He is the founder of multiple ventures including GoldSRD (staffing, executive recruiting, and professional development), Crowne Cloth (a luxury lifestyle brand), DCL Cards (sports collectibles), LikeMe App (dating application) and GoldTM (ATM and vending services).

Danny’s work focuses on leadership, assertiveness, entrepreneurship, and the balance between empathy and decisiveness in business. His philosophy challenges the idea that success requires being ruthless—arguing instead that the most effective leaders learn how to be just assertive enough to get results while still earning respect.

Through his speaking, consulting, and podcast appearances, Danny shares practical lessons from building businesses, navigating leadership challenges, and developing the confidence needed to succeed in modern workplaces.

To book Danny M Goldberg to speak at your event, please email [email protected] or call 833-514-8883.

Contact Danny Goldberg:
https://littlebitahole.com/

Buy Danny's book:  https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/7SUY64BKRSN94 or

[email protected]

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Join the Confidence and Clarity Membership!  https://carrievee.com/confidence-clarity-1

Connect with CarrieVee:
www.carrievee.com
[email protected]
IG:  @iamcarrievee 
TT:  @carrievee2022
FB:  Carrie Verrocchio
LI:  Carrie Verrocchio 

Are you sacrificing sleep to get more done?

In this eye-opening episode of Coffee & Tea with CarrieVee, Carrie welcomes back sleep expert Terry Cralle for a powerful conversation about why sleep is one of the most overlooked pillars of health. Together, they unpack the dangerous myth that sleep is optional, explore why women often put everyone else's needs ahead of their own, and reveal the surprising ways sleep affects everything from weight management and mental health to relationships, decision-making, and longevity. 

If you've ever said, "I'll sleep when I'm dead," this episode may completely change your perspective.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

•  Why sleep is a necessity—not a luxury 
•  The connection between sleep, diet, and exercise 
•  How sleep deprivation impacts metabolism and weight gain 
•  Why women often sacrifice sleep in the name of caregiving 
•  The alarming effects of sleep loss on children and teens 
•  How sleep affects memory, mood, learning, and decision-making 
•  The link between sleep deprivation and chronic disease 
•  Why drowsy driving can be as dangerous as drunk driving 
•  The role sleep plays in mental health, anxiety, and depression 
•  How sleep influences productivity, creativity, and quality of life 
•  Why "catching up" on weekends isn't enough 
•  The importance of creating a family culture that values sleep 

Key Takeaway

Sleep isn't something you earn after everything else is done.

Sleep is the foundation that allows you to do everything else well.

When we prioritize sleep, we improve our physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, focus, energy, and overall quality of life. As Terry reminds us, sufficient sleep isn't indulgent—it's essential. 

Terry Cralle, RN, MS, is cofounder of a four-bed sleep disorders center in Virginia, and a nationally recognized sleep health consultant, educator, and advocate. Her work in the field of sleep medicine has ranged from patient care to clinical research and continuing education for nurses. As a certified clinical sleep educator, she is a highly sought-after consultant and speaker for schools, corporations, hospitals, and community organizations, as well as for the hospitality, travel, and bedding industry. Terry works closely with the International Sleep Products Association, Start School Later, and the Pajama Program. She is the national spokesperson for the Better Sleep Council.

Contact Terry Cralle:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-cralle-rn-sleep-educator/
https://bettersleep.org/

The Harm Of Screen Use Referenced in this Podcast:  https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/screen-use-harms/index.html



Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Join the Confidence and Clarity Membership!  https://carrievee.com/confidence-clarity-1

Connect with CarrieVee:
www.carrievee.com
[email protected]
IG:  @iamcarrievee 
TT:  @carrievee2022
FB:  Carrie Verrocchio
LI:  Carrie Verrocchio 

Helping Midlife Women Move Forward Again
Many midlife women aren’t starting from scratch — they’re navigating seasons where what once worked no longer fits.

I help women move out of the start-over cycle and rebuild strength, energy, and confidence with realistic fitness, nutrition, and mindset strategies that support real life.

I know what it feels like to juggle work, motherhood, and identity while wondering if you’ll ever feel like yourself again. At one point, I was a single mom raising two kids on $300 a month, working long hours and trying to hold everything together.

Fitness became my lifeline — the one thing that helped me feel strong, resilient, and hopeful when life felt heavy.

Over the past 35+ years, that lifeline became my mission. I’ve helped thousands of midlife women move out of the start-over cycle and find an approach that finally works for their body and their life.

Here’s what I believe:

Midlife isn’t a decline — it’s your turning point.
You don’t need extremes — just small steps that fit your life.
And with the right support, you can feel capable, clear, and strong at any age.
If you’re ready to stop starting over and finally find an approach that works for your body and your life, you’re in the right place.

Get Heike's book: https://amzn.to/4tBvoGp
https://heikeyates.com/

Book CarrieVee for a Speaking Engagement:  https://www.coachcarriev.com/contact-me

Join the Confidence and Clarity Membership!  https://carrievee.com/confidence-clarity-1

Connect with CarrieVee:
www.carrievee.com
[email protected]
IG:  @iamcarrievee 
TT:  @carrievee2022
FB:  Carrie Verrocchio
LI:  Carrie Verrocchio