Sexy is a vibe, not a size. This powerful truth sits at the heart of our conversation with Liz Hansen, owner of Chicago Boudoir Photography, who has photographed nearly 2,000 women in intimate, empowering sessions that celebrate their bodies exactly as they are.

For women navigating the physical and emotional landscape of midlife, boudoir photography offers something remarkable: the chance to see themselves through a different lens. Hansen shares how what often begins as a gift for a partner transforms into a profound gift to oneself. "What my studio really specializes in is helping women reclaim something, feel something that maybe they feel like they have lost," Hansen explains, noting how perimenopause and menopausal changes can leave women feeling disconnected from their bodies.

The misconceptions around boudoir photography run deep. Many women believe they need to lose weight before booking a session, but Hansen firmly rejects this notion: "Thinness is not greatness." She welcomes clients of all sizes, ages, and life circumstances—from celebrating milestone birthdays to processing cancer diagnoses or leaving abusive relationships. Her sessions provide a pampering experience with professional hair and makeup, guided posing, and an immediate photo reveal that often moves clients to tears when they see their true beauty captured.

Perhaps most eye-opening is Hansen's explanation of why so many of us hate photos of ourselves. The distortion created by smartphone cameras makes features closest to the lens appear larger and can create a fundamentally misleading self-image. Professional photography with proper lenses and lighting reveals a truer representation—one that often surprises and delights clients.

Whether you're curious about boudoir photography or simply looking to reconnect with your sense of self, Hansen's parting wisdom resonates: "Middle age is about taking risks, taking charge of your life. It's not the time to sit around and wait." What might you discover about yourself if you had the courage to be seen?

Subscribe to hear more conversations about navigating midlife with confidence, humor, and a healthy dose of rebellion against society's expectations.
Source: https://chicago-boudoir.com/FREE STUFF: https://chicago-boudoir.com/free
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Have you ever wondered why certain patterns keep repeating in your life, especially as you navigate midlife? The answer might lie in your earliest years.

Our conversation with inner child healing expert Jen Peters takes us on a profound journey connecting childhood experiences to midlife challenges. Drawing from her own path from severe trauma to transformation, Jen reveals how the beliefs we form before age seven create the foundation for our adult lives—impacting everything from relationships to self-worth.

What makes this exploration particularly eye-opening is Jen's ability to identify trauma where many wouldn't recognize it. Even seemingly positive experiences like adoption can create abandonment wounds that echo through decades. Through her work with thousands of clients, Jen has identified twelve core themes of childhood trauma that manifest in adulthood as relationship difficulties, feelings of unworthiness, or that persistent sense of "not being enough."

The discussion takes fascinating turns as we examine how ADHD symptoms often connect to early dissociation responses, how generational trauma passes through families, and the concerning impact of digital disconnection on today's youth. For listeners struggling with unexplained emotional patterns or midlife dissatisfaction, Jen offers clear signs to identify if you're operating from wounded inner child energy.

This episode isn't just about understanding our wounds—it's about healing them. Jen shares how reconnecting with our inner child allows us to give ourselves what we needed but didn't receive, creating profound shifts in our present-day lives. Her approach combines deep psychological insight with practical healing techniques anyone can apply.

Ready to transform your relationship with yourself and break free from limiting patterns? Listen now and discover how healing your inner child might be the missing piece in your midlife journey. Your younger self is waiting to show you the way home.
Source: https://jen-peters.com/Free Healing Resources: 
Purchase Coming Home Bookhttps://amzn.to/40KvWNV
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Terry's transformation from overworked marketing agency owner to wellness retreat founder offers a roadmap for women navigating the confusing terrain of perimenopause and midlife health. At 37, while juggling motherhood and an 18-hour workday, Terry found herself 80 pounds overweight and developing serious health complications—pre-diabetes, anxiety attacks mistaken for heart problems, and mysterious ovarian cysts. What she didn't realize until five years later was that these symptoms coincided with early perimenopause, a revelation that came only after she had fully entered menopause at 42.

The turning point arrived when a coach identified something surprising beneath Terry's physical symptoms: an undiagnosed eating disorder that had shaped her relationship with food throughout her life. This discovery launched a complete lifestyle overhaul focused not on restriction but on nourishment—eating more food with proper macronutrient timing, incorporating strength training, and addressing the emotional patterns driving her health challenges. To her surprise, her body "responded instantly" to these changes, demonstrating that midlife transformation doesn't require the punishing regimens often marketed to women.

Today, Terry's House of Rose in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains hosts intimate retreats limited to just ten women, creating the perfect environment for deep connections that continue long after participants return home. These "girl gangs," as Terry affectionately calls them, provide ongoing support through shared workout photos, recipe exchanges, and even planning future adventures together. Beyond the physical setting, Terry offers online coaching that combines nutritional guidance with customized strength training programs, challenging myths about weightlifting making women "bulky" and instead emphasizing functional strength that supports women through hormonal changes.

Whether you're just beginning to notice perimenopausal symptoms or well into your menopause journey, Terry's message resonates: midlife isn't the beginning of the end—it's simply the starting point for what could be your healthiest, most fulfilling years. Ready to transform your midlife story? Connect with Terry at thehouseofrose.com or join us on social media to continue the conversation about navigating this powerful transition with knowledge, strength, and community.

Source: https://www.thehouseofrose.com/womens-wellness-retreats/

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Burnout doesn't happen overnight—it's the culmination of pushing ourselves too hard for too long, masking problems until our bodies finally demand we stop. This wisdom comes from Zoe of YourVitalityCoaching.com, whose journey from high-powered policy work to holistic wellness coaching began with her own five-month battle with anxiety and depression.

From Yorkshire, England, Zoe shares how the universe delivered a perfect irony: she was assigned to a mental health project at NHS England just before experiencing her own breakdown. This forced pause became transformative, revealing not only workplace stress but deeper issues she'd been avoiding, including an unhappy marriage. "We mask things because it's less painful than unpicking and dealing with them," she explains, "but at some point, it catches up."

What makes Zoe's approach powerful is its accessibility. True wellness doesn't require complicated regimens or hours of practice. Three deep breaths can dramatically lower your heart rate after intense exercise. Visualizing roots growing from your feet into the earth for just two minutes can restore clarity amid chaos. These simple techniques trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, calming our bodies and minds while providing perspective.

Her holistic offerings combine physical fitness with energy work—a crucial element often overlooked in Western health approaches. "If our subtle energy body is well, our physical body doesn't get sick," she notes. Her website features everything from cardio workouts to yin yoga, along with breathwork, meditation, and fascinating sound therapy using instruments tuned to 432Hz, the healing frequency. These sound waves help realign cellular frequencies, addressing imbalance wherever it's needed most.

The beauty of Zoe's work lies in its personalization. Different bodies respond to different approaches, which is why she offers various modalities on a pay-what-you-can basis. Her free "7 Days to Calm Challenge" provides daily emails with simple practices anyone can implement immediately.

Ready to transform your relationship with stress and reclaim your vitality? Visit YourVitalityCoaching.com and discover how small, intentional practices can create profound shifts in your wellbeing—physically, mentally, and energetically.
Source: https://yourvitalitycoaching.com/Free 7 Days to Calmhttps://yourvitalitycoaching.com/free-7-days-to-calm
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You can hear our mascot Toro panting...he just gets so excited...

John Solleder shatters age stereotypes with every weight he lifts. Having just returned from a powerlifting competition where he benched 350 pounds at age 64, John embodies his core philosophy: "Don't let the old person in." This mindset has transformed not just his physical health but his entire approach to life's third chapter.

During our enlightening conversation, John shares how he transitioned from meat-lover to vegetarian eight years ago after watching the documentary "Forks Over Knives." What began as a one-day experiment to alleviate joint pain evolved into a complete lifestyle transformation. Recently, John embraced raw veganism, resulting in not only significant weight loss (approximately 90 pounds over eight years) but also remarkable improvements in mental clarity and physical wellbeing. His nutritional journey goes beyond personal health benefits – it's deeply rooted in environmental sustainability and ethical considerations for animals as sentient beings.

Perhaps most inspiring is John's commitment to continuous growth and adaptation throughout midlife. When COVID-19 derailed his plans to promote his newly published books through in-person events, he pivoted to podcasting despite having no prior experience. More recently, he embraced artificial intelligence technology, which opened unexpected business opportunities, including co-hosting the Top Doctor Magazine podcast. His story perfectly illustrates two principles essential for thriving in midlife: the willingness to pivot when circumstances change and maintaining the agility to embrace new ideas and technologies.

John's journey proves that age truly is just a number when we refuse to let it define our limitations. His example offers invaluable inspiration for anyone navigating the changes in health, career, and purpose that come with midlife. Ready to challenge your own assumptions about aging? Listen now to discover how you might reinvent yourself, regardless of what your driver's license says.

Source:
https://www.forksoverknives.com/
John Solleder Books and Leave Nothing To Chance Podcast: https://www.johnsolleder.com/


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Lynn Harris never set out to revolutionize comedy, but when she found herself unable to stay awake for late-night performances, she transformed from comedian to "comedian enabler" by founding Gold Comedy. Her mission? Creating pathways to success for women and other underrepresented groups in an industry historically dominated by straight white men.

Gold Comedy operates as a professional network, connecting members with resources, opportunities, and most importantly, each other. What makes Harris's approach unique is its inclusivity across age groups. While many members are in their 20s and 30s, there's a significant contingent of Gen Xers and beyond discovering their comedic talents later in life. Take Rocky Mateen, a grandmother and retired art teacher who began stand-up classes with Gold Comedy and now tours throughout the South while writing for a sketch team. Her story exemplifies how it's never too late to pursue creative passions.

Rather than charging per class, Gold Comedy uses an annual membership model that grants access to classes, resources, and community. This structure encourages members to create personalized learning paths based on their specific goals, whether developing stand-up routines, pitching TV shows, or creating web series. Through industry partnerships, Gold Comedy has even helped members' work reach broader audiences—like a member-created web series now streaming on Fox Soul.

The power of these connections can't be overstated. After decades in the comedy industry, Harris has cultivated relationships with influential figures like Rachel Dratch (an advisor to Gold Comedy), Janeane Garofalo, and Margaret Cho. But beyond star power, the community itself provides crucial support in an industry often characterized by rejection and frustration. As Harris explains, "Communities are the way you survive any sort of tough job."

Ready to embrace your inner comedian or finally pitch that show idea you've been nurturing for years? Visit goldcomedy.com or follow @goldcomedy on Instagram to join a community that's reshaping comedy one laugh at a time.

Source: 
https://goldcomedy.com/

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Ever wonder if that feeling of being stuck or lost in midlife might actually be your greatest opportunity? In this eye-opening conversation with transformational coach Elisa, we discover why crisis moments—especially midlife transitions—can be powerful catalysts for profound personal transformation.Elisa, who joins us from Switzerland and speaks five languages, shares her own journey through multiple crises that ultimately led her to discover her purpose helping others navigate similar challenges. She offers a refreshing perspective: "If you're experiencing a crisis, it's good news," because these difficult moments serve as wake-up calls that can lead to authentic self-discovery and renewed purpose.We explore the fascinating differences between transformational coaching, therapy, and traditional life coaching. While therapy often addresses past trauma and mental health concerns, and life coaching tends to focus on specific goals and outcomes, transformational coaching creates space for deeper identity exploration when you're feeling stuck or sensing something needs to change but aren't sure what. This approach is particularly valuable during midlife when many of us question who we really are beyond our roles as parents, professionals, or partners.What makes Elisa's approach unique is her integration of psychological astrology—not for prediction, but as a powerful tool for understanding personality traits, strengths, blind spots, and even life purpose. Her explanation of elemental astrology and how our dominant elements (fire, water, earth, or air) influence our motivation and emotional needs offers surprising insights into what drives us and what might be missing when we feel depleted.Through her nine-week coaching program structured in three phases—depth, focus, and shift—Elisa guides clients from being deeply heard and understood to identifying limiting beliefs and ultimately implementing conscious change with new awareness and acceptance. Her emphasis on patience and the power of recognizing our internal dialogue offers practical wisdom that listeners can immediately apply.Ready to see your midlife crisis as an opportunity rather than a breakdown? Listen now and discover how to transform your challenges into stepping stones toward a more authentic and purposeful life. Visit Elisa's website using code LETS for 15% off her services and access her free quiz to understand your personal blockages.Source:https://www.elisatessan.com/To book a discovery call:https://www.elisatessan.com/discoveryUse code LETS for 15% off 1:1 Coaching Program

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Yes, the heavy panting is our hidden guest and mascot Toro (dog)

Ever wonder if that feeling of being stuck or lost in midlife might actually be your greatest opportunity? In this eye-opening conversation with transformational coach Elisa, we discover why crisis moments—especially midlife transitions—can be powerful catalysts for profound personal transformation.

Elisa, who joins us from Switzerland and speaks five languages, shares her own journey through multiple crises that ultimately led her to discover her purpose helping others navigate similar challenges. She offers a refreshing perspective: "If you're experiencing a crisis, it's good news," because these difficult moments serve as wake-up calls that can lead to authentic self-discovery and renewed purpose.

We explore the fascinating differences between transformational coaching, therapy, and traditional life coaching. While therapy often addresses past trauma and mental health concerns, and life coaching tends to focus on specific goals and outcomes, transformational coaching creates space for deeper identity exploration when you're feeling stuck or sensing something needs to change but aren't sure what. This approach is particularly valuable during midlife when many of us question who we really are beyond our roles as parents, professionals, or partners.

What makes Elisa's approach unique is her integration of psychological astrology—not for prediction, but as a powerful tool for understanding personality traits, strengths, blind spots, and even life purpose. Her explanation of elemental astrology and how our dominant elements (fire, water, earth, or air) influence our motivation and emotional needs offers surprising insights into what drives us and what might be missing when we feel depleted.

Through her nine-week coaching program structured in three phases—depth, focus, and shift—Elisa guides clients from being deeply heard and understood to identifying limiting beliefs and ultimately implementing conscious change with new awareness and acceptance. Her emphasis on patience and the power of recognizing our internal dialogue offers practical wisdom that listeners can immediately apply.

Ready to see your midlife crisis as an opportunity rather than a breakdown? Listen now and discover how to transform your challenges into stepping stones toward a more authentic and purposeful life. Visit Elisa's website using code LETS for 15% off her services and access her free quiz to understand your personal blockages.

Source:
https://www.elisatessan.com/

To book a discovery call:
https://www.elisatessan.com/discovery
Use code LETS for 15% off 1:1 Coaching Program

Or email Elisa at [email protected]

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Midlife often presents unexpected challenges, igniting feelings of uncertainty, especially for women navigating the transition. Join hosts Ashley and Traci as they engage with Karla Joy, a certified life coach, to unravel the complexities of self-care and personal growth. In this episode, we discuss the significance of prioritizing our well-being, debunking the myth that self-care is selfish. Karla opens up about her journey into life coaching, explaining how women in their 40s and beyond can benefit from her empowering approach.

Explore the impact of mindset on our daily lives, as Karla shares actionable insights on transforming negative beliefs into routes of self-empowerment. By implementing self-care strategies and working towards tangible goals, listeners will find clarity and encouragement to prioritize their aspirations.

Whether you seek to regain your identity, navigate changes, or simply learn to love yourself again, this conversation is filled with inspiration and practical advice to help you thrive. Don’t miss this opportunity to reimagine your path and ignite a healthier and happier you. Tap into Karla's resources, and be ready to embrace the joyful journey ahead! Wouldn’t you agree that it’s time to take that first step?

https://beautybykarlajoy.com/Use code JOY20 for 20% off 
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The shadow of dementia looms larger than most of us realize. With a 42% lifetime risk between ages 55-95 and projections showing nearly one million new cases annually by 2060, this condition demands our attention while we still have power to act.Drawing from rigorous research and personal experience, we unpack the surprising connections between everyday choices and future brain health. Tracy shares her raw, emotional journey caring for her mother with Alzheimer's, highlighting both the personal toll and practical challenges families face when dementia strikes. The conversation shifts between scientific findings and lived experience, creating a powerful case for prevention.Beyond genetics, we explore the modifiable risk factors within our control. Cardiovascular health emerges as a critical protector, with diabetes in midlife carrying similar dementia risk as genetic factors. Hearing health proves unexpectedly important—hearing aid use shows a 19% reduction in cognitive decline among at-risk individuals. Even simple interventions like a daily 30-minute walk could decrease dementia risk by 18% by promoting proteins that help brain cells form new connections.Sleep quality deserves special attention, particularly the deep slow-wave stage where your body repairs itself. People with sleep disturbances face 19% higher dementia risk, creating a vicious cycle as brain changes further disrupt sleep patterns. We share practical tips for improving sleep quality, from eye masks to specialized earplugs that conform comfortably to your ears.Mental stimulation through word games, puzzles and learning new languages builds cognitive reserve that protects against decline. The message becomes clear: while genetics play a role, lifestyle factors significantly impact our cognitive trajectory. With today's early detection tools, we have unprecedented opportunities to take charge of our brain health.Take one simple step today toward better brain health—whether that's a short walk, addressing hearing concerns, or prioritizing sleep. Your future self will thank you. Share this episode with someone who needs this information, and connect with us on social media to continue the conversation about protecting your most precious asset—your mind.Source:https://magazine.publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/activity-sleep-dementiahttps://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/preventive-steps-in-midlife-can-help-to-lower-dementia-risk#:~:text=Preventive%20Steps%20in%20Midlife%20Can,currently%20affects%206%20million%20Americans

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