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What happens when unimaginable tragedy strikes in childhood? For Tim Resch, losing his father, grandfather, and younger brother to a drunk driver at age 13 became the catalyst for an extraordinary life journey that led him to become a real-life mountain man in the Colorado Rockies.

In this deeply moving conversation with host Kim Branham, Tim shares his remarkable story of resilience with raw honesty and surprising humor. Days before the accident that claimed his family members, young Tim had watched the film "Jeremiah Johnson," igniting a lifelong passion for mountain living that would eventually become his salvation. Without formal grief counseling available in the 1970s, Tim instinctively processed his trauma by talking openly about it—even when it made others uncomfortable.

The conversation takes unexpected turns as Tim recounts his unconventional path: moving to New Hampshire as a troubled teen, discovering the Colorado mountains with $18,000 in insurance money, and famously "trading his wife for four tires and a horse" to pursue his mountain dreams. Now at 65, Tim has spent decades living his vision—working as a mule packer, outfitter, and mountain guide while hosting guests at his off-grid Airbnb where he shares his wisdom around the fire.

What makes this episode truly special is the philosophy Tim developed through adversity: "Now, what are you going to do?" This forward-looking perspective has guided him through life's challenges and taught him that "the best thing on earth to spend is time." Through their friendship, Tim and Kim reveal how differently people process grief, yet how healing comes through connection and found family.

Whether you're facing your own midlife challenges or simply seeking inspiration, Tim's extraordinary journey reminds us that while trauma shapes us, it doesn't define us. His story proves that finding purpose and joy remains possible even after devastating loss. Listen now to discover how one man transformed tragedy into a life of authentic purpose and adventure.

The key to thriving through midlife transitions isn’t perfection — it’s support. Whether you’re navigating hormonal shifts, parenting changes, or rediscovering your sense of purpose, you don’t have to do it alone.

Learn more at www.ThinSpaceWellness.com or connect with me directly at [email protected]

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Kim Branum shares the defining moment of her life—losing her mother in a tragic accident at age seven when her mom stopped to help a stranger on the side of the road. This childhood trauma has shaped every aspect of her life since that day.

• How the accident happened when Kim was seven and her brother was 18 months old
• Memory gaps that protected her from the trauma as her mother was killed helping a stranger
• The painful innocence of wanting to replace her mom's sweet tea before learning she was gone
• Learning to hide her grief when it made others uncomfortable
• Her father's remarriage and the systematic erasure of her mother from their home
• The healing journey of becoming a nurse like her mother
• Finding the accident report as an adult and experiencing the loss all over again
• Understanding how the tragedy affected everyone in her family, including her father

Join us next week as Kim interviews Tim Resch, who will share his own story of early trauma and how it shaped his life. If you have a story you'd like to share, please reach out—Kim would love to hear from you.

The key to thriving through midlife transitions isn’t perfection — it’s support. Whether you’re navigating hormonal shifts, parenting changes, or rediscovering your sense of purpose, you don’t have to do it alone.

Learn more at www.ThinSpaceWellness.com or connect with me directly at [email protected]

Send us a text

Kim Branum welcomes her patient-turned-friend Kim from Estes Park, Colorado, who shares her remarkable 60-pound weight loss journey using GLP-1 medications over the past 14 months.

• Starting Weight Watchers at age 10 led to a lifetime of yo-yo dieting and trying countless fad diets
• After decades of struggle, Kim had resigned herself to remaining overweight in middle age
• Initial disappointment when no weight loss occurred during the first month of GLP-1 treatment
• By month two, the medication began working effectively and has continued for 14 months
• Achieving single-digit jeans size for the first time ever in her life
• Slow medication titration process working with qualified practitioners
• Freedom from constant calorie counting and the mental burden of food restriction
• Ability to keep previously triggering foods like ice cream in the house without feeling compelled to overindulge
• Unexpected benefits for anxiety and depression with fewer emotional ups and downs
• Currently at her high school weight with a goal of losing 10-20 more pounds
• Importance of working with knowledgeable practitioners for proper dosing and support

If you have questions for Kim or about GLP-1 medications, reach out to [email protected]

The key to thriving through midlife transitions isn’t perfection — it’s support. Whether you’re navigating hormonal shifts, parenting changes, or rediscovering your sense of purpose, you don’t have to do it alone.

Learn more at www.ThinSpaceWellness.com or connect with me directly at [email protected]

Send us a text

Feeling stuck in your body despite your best efforts? You're not alone. The buzz around GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro has reached fever pitch, but separating fact from fiction can feel impossible. As a nurse and midlife woman who's been there myself, I'm pulling back the curtain on these "medications heard around the world."

The magic of GLP-1 treatments extends far beyond weight loss. Yes, they slow digestion to keep you fuller longer, but their most remarkable effect happens in your brain. That constant mental chatter about food—the cravings, the planning, the guilt—simply quiets down. Many patients describe this sensation as transformative, noting it extends beyond food thoughts to create a general sense of mental calm and contentment. Scientists are now exploring these medications for anxiety, depression, and addiction treatment because of this powerful neurological impact.

Despite what you might have heard, properly managed GLP-1 treatment shouldn't make you miserable with side effects. Those horror stories of constant nausea and vomiting? That's improper dosing or lack of medical supervision. And contrary to popular belief, most patients don't stay on these medications forever. With proper coaching and lifestyle changes, many successfully wean off after reaching their goals. Using these medications isn't "cheating"—it's utilizing effective medical resources to overcome biological barriers, particularly hormonal challenges that resist traditional approaches. If you're tired of feeling trapped in a body that won't respond to diet and exercise alone, I'd love to help you explore whether GLP-1 treatment might be your path to freedom. Subscribe for more midlife wellness insights, and join us next week when I welcome my first guest who'll share her personal GLP-1 journey!

The key to thriving through midlife transitions isn’t perfection — it’s support. Whether you’re navigating hormonal shifts, parenting changes, or rediscovering your sense of purpose, you don’t have to do it alone.

Learn more at www.ThinSpaceWellness.com or connect with me directly at [email protected]

Send us a text

Kim shares her personal wellness journey from childhood weight awareness to finding freedom from restriction and true comfort in her skin after losing 45 pounds in midlife.

• First became aware of weight during summers with grandparents, fluctuating between "plumping up" and slimming down
• Developed food restriction habits in elementary school after a cafeteria worker's comment about going for seconds
• Experienced a pattern of restriction followed by binge eating throughout childhood and teens
• Felt lost during the transition from childbearing years to midlife, especially after a miscarriage
• Gained significant weight while on medication and felt stuck in her "mom bod" until seeing a shocking photo
• Tried the GLP-1 medications after years of restrictive dieting and successfully lost 45 pounds
• Found the medications completely changed her relationship with food, ending the restriction-binge cycle
• Created Thin Space Wellness to help others achieve similar transformations and find comfort in their bodies
• Future episodes will cover GLP-1 medications in depth and feature interviews with patients who've had success

Follow our podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. If you know someone who could benefit from this information, please share it with them.

The key to thriving through midlife transitions isn’t perfection — it’s support. Whether you’re navigating hormonal shifts, parenting changes, or rediscovering your sense of purpose, you don’t have to do it alone.

Learn more at www.ThinSpaceWellness.com or connect with me directly at [email protected]

Send us a text

Welcome to Midlife Mayhem—where we embrace the beautiful chaos that comes with life in the messy middle. I’m your host, Kim Branum, RN-BSN, wellness coach, co-owner of Thin Space Wellness, and boy mom x3. In this very first episode, recorded during a sleepless night in a bathrobe and eye patches (because midlife skin care waits for no one), I give you a real, unfiltered introduction to what this podcast is all about.

You’ll get a glimpse into my world: splitting time between North Carolina and Estes Park, Colorado, running wellness practices in both states (plus offering Telehealth), all while navigating the daily mayhem of midlife motherhood. Spoiler alert: the insomnia that led to this recording was fueled by the mental gymnastics of deciding how to school our 10-year-old—homeschool, virtual, in-person? The pressure to get it right is real.

Tune in for a raw, honest look at midlife—the good, the hard, the hilarious—and know you’re not alone in the madness. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

The key to thriving through midlife transitions isn’t perfection — it’s support. Whether you’re navigating hormonal shifts, parenting changes, or rediscovering your sense of purpose, you don’t have to do it alone.

Learn more at www.ThinSpaceWellness.com or connect with me directly at [email protected]