The Kettle with Meagan Francis

Be honest: how do you feel about most photos of you? If the answer is "ugh", you're definitely not alone. Most women "don't exist" in photos, says Debbie Love, owner of Fifty Love Photography. Debbie knows firsthand how transformative and powerful a positive personal photography session can be and has made it her mission to take timeless, flattering, and gorgeous photos of regular women. In this episode we talk about the techniques Debbie uses to help women discover themselves through photography, and how you can start to love the way you look in photos, one session (or selfie!) at a time.

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About

Debbie Smith specializes in photographing women - especially women who have never liked a picture of themselves.  At 47, she's been through it all - she's experienced empty nest syndrome, lost herself in her 30s, had skin cancer removed from her top lip and reconstructive surgery to fix it. After rediscovering herself in her 40s, Debbie has found renewed confidence and a passion for helping women in their 40’s, 50's, 60's and beyond see themselves as beautiful, pretty, confident, elegant, and sexy in photographs, sometimes for the first time in their lives.

Episode Links

Visit Debbie's website to look at her beautiful portfolio, and be sure to check out the before and after photos.Learn more about the 40 over 40 movement and how to be part of it. For more, you can follow Debbie on Facebook, and on Instagram @fiftylovephoto.

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What's it really like to have a cosmetic procedure like a tummy tuck, breast lift, or liposuction, and what should you ask a surgeon to help you decide? Why are some of the criticisms of plastic surgery outdated? And can cosmetic procedures and body positivity co-exist? In this episode I talk with Terri Zomerlei, MD, from the Centre for Plastic Surgery in Grand Rapids, MI. We dig in what to think (and ask!) about when considering having a cosmetic procedure, some of the procedures she performs most often on women in their 40s and 50s, and what you can do to increase the chances you'll stay safe during and after the procedure - and be satisfied with the results.

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About

A West Michigan native, Terri A. Zomerlei, MD joined the Centre for Plastic Surgery in 2019 following her many years of medical experience, education and training. After practicing as a PA in the field of General Surgery for several years, Dr. Zomerlei pursued her dream of practicing as a physician and attended Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

Dr. Zomerlei has developed a reputation for providing exceptional patient care and being a meticulous and conscientious surgeon. She has presented her work at multiple forums and national meetings and is an established author- having published numerous book chapters and articles. She recently published a book chapter on abdominoplasties and liposuction in Grabbe and Smith, the gold standard text in the field of plastic surgery. Dr. Zomerlei is an enthusiastic teacher who loves the opportunity to educate patients and residents alike.

A self-proclaimed Lake Michigan aficionado, Dr. Z enjoys spending time at the lakeshore with her husband, daughters and lazy Great Danes.

Episode Links

Learn more about the Dr. Terri Zomerlei and the Centre for Plastic Surgery.Be sure to subscribe to The Mother of Reinvention Show so you don't miss out on new episodes.

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Inflammation. We've all heard we should avoid, prevent, and/or reduce it. But, where does inflammation really come from, and which diet is the right one for heading it off at the pass? Is it possible that mitigating this chronic health-threatening condition can be as simple (nobody said EASY...) as managing stress, getting enough sleep, and sustaining an eating and movement lifestyle that feels good? In this episode, Certified Nutritional Coach Rachel Hughes of The Meno Memos does a deep dive into what chronic inflammation really is and how it can affect our health, and offers some simple strategies for heading it off at the pass. We also talk about the hormonal changes happening in a woman's 40s and 50s, menopause symptoms like the dreaded "brain fog", and the disparities in access to quality healthcare that negatively impacts women of color.

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About

Rachel Hughes is a mid-life mother, wife, CNC and perimenopausal blogger. She wants to create safe spaces where peri- and menopausal women can help each other navigate these particular years together with honesty, thoughtfulness and a lot of laughter. 

Rachel has worked with chronic pain patients for over 10 years; and believes that food, nutrients and movement can be used as powerful tools to help people rebalance and heal themselves from all sorts of physical and physiological challenges, including those driven by fluctuating hormones. With her platform, she hopes to encourage women to inspire each other to dispense stories and insights about everything from food to fashion, career to beauty!

Episode Links

Be sure to follow along and read Rachel's BlogYou can also follow her on Instagram @themenomemosShare your favorite episode with your friendsFor more from Meagan, you can also follow @meaganfrancis

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Everything was looking up for Kathreen Francis. In her late 40s, she was finally past her "broke single mom" phase: she had a solid career, a supportive partner, her kids were older, and she was beginning to enjoy all the things in life she'd never had time for before. But at age 50, Kathreen was seriously sidelined when an aneurysm in her brain burst, leading to a month-plus hospitalization and several surgeries. While Kathreen eventually made a full recovery physically, her emotional recovery took longer and there were many bumps along the way. In this episode Kathreen talks frankly about some of the holistic practices she leaned on as she learned to embrace life again, how she has moved past fear as she has taken back on physical challenges, her experience with yoga teacher training, and why she believes her current age (54) is the best time of her life.

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Kathreen and Meagan on a backpacking trip in northern Michigan (after the aneurysm!)

About

Kathreen Francis is a happly middle-aged mother of 4. She's a lover of yoga, Michigan's scenic beauty, history, and archaeology, and is a volunteer docent for the Michigan History Center in Lansing, MI. When Kathreen finally dies one day, she hopes it's with a book in her hands.

Episode Links

As mentioned in the episode, you can listen to Meagan & Kathreen talk about her health scare over on The Mom Hour.For more information about brain aneurysms, detection and treatments, talk with your doctor - and also check out the Brain Aneurysm Foundation for more information.Make sure to get caught up on all of the Mother of Reinvention Show Episodes!

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What are the things in your life that used to make you feel like really YOU - that you maybe let go of when things got busy? And, is it time to rediscover them? In today’s episode of Mother of Reinvention, I talk to Amy Clark, creator of MomAdvice.com, the Mom Advice Book Club, and the Mom Advice Book Gang podcast. We talk frankly about Amy’s struggles with Ehler Danlos Syndrom (EDS) and how early menopause has exacerbated this already-challenging condition, prompting Amy to double down on the activities she feels most passionate about: one of which is discovering books and authors for her community.

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About Amy

Amy Clark has been the driving force behind MomAdvice.com since 2004 and is the author of The Good Life for Less. Amy is the creator and facilitator of the MomAdvice Book Club and host of The Mom Advice Book Gang Podcast.

Episode Links

Join the MomAdvice Book Club.For author interviews and bonus content, join the MomAdvice Patreon.MomAdvice Book Gang Podcas episodes are here.Follow MomAdvice on InstagramAlso listen to Amy on The Mom Hour and Sorta Awesome podcasts.

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Tania Dalton had always considered herself “mediocre at everything”... but then ran a marathon for the first time at 47. In this interview, Tania - who is also a healthy aging coach and personal trainer - shares her story of how it felt to get through training and then cross the finish line after decades of never feeling like she’d accomplished much. It not only gave her a huge amount of confidence, but also helped her reframe what her body is capable of - and now she helps women approaching midlife and beyond tap into their own potential. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late for you to try a new big challenge - or feel the days slipping by without making a lot of progress toward those big, audacious goals - you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode of Mother of Reinvention. 

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About Tania

Tania is a 52 year old Healthy Aging Coach and Personal Trainer who is passionate about redefining age. She lives in Australia with her family.

Losing her father (who was 47) to a sudden heart attack prompted Tania to qualify as a fitness trainer and begin researching and studying the effects of lifestyle on ageing. It has and continues to be her passion to explore how we can not only live longer but also age better.

Episode Links

Visit Tania's website to learn more about her personal training and coaching services.Read more about Tania's marathon experience on her blog.Follow Tania on Instagram at @taniadalton.Be sure to catch up on all of the episodes of Mother of Reinvention.

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No matter what your specific religious beliefs are - or whether you have any defined beliefs at all - there is undoubtedly something comforting and essential about finding a sense of purpose, meaning, and wisdom outside of yourself. As someone who grew up in the Christian church, grew away from faith and found myself fumbling back in my 40s, I know how tricky and fraught this dance can be, so I was excited to have this conversation with Episcopal priest, podcaster, writer and mom Sarah Condon. Sarah talks honestly about what it's like to be a female spiritual leader, her work as the chaplain of Rice University, and how she sees women in transitional periods of life leaning into - and sometimes, temporarily away from - their spirituality. She also talks movingly about the recent tragic loss of her parents and how her faith has buoyed her through.

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About Sarah

Sarah Condon is an Episcopal priest living and working in Houston, Texas. She also serves as the Episcopal chaplain to Rice University. She went to University of Mississippi, and then Yale for Divinity School. She is married to the Reverend Josh Condon, and have two children, Neil and Annie.

Sarah is an associate editor of the Mockingbird Blog, author of Churchy: The Real Life Adventures of a Wife, Mom, and Priest, and co-host of The Mockingcast.

Episode Links

Find out more about Sarah's ministries here.Purchase Sarah's book, Churchy.Read Sarah's blog posts and essays at the Mockinbird Blog.Meagan mentions the book Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren.Be sure to catch up on all of the episodes of Mother of Reinvention.

( *Featured photo by Karen Walrond )

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Are carbs the devil, or a necessary source of energy? Are beans a nutritional powerhouse - or a gut-wrecking source of inflammation? Often it seems to depend on who you ask. But what if it also depends on YOU, and your unique body and needs? In today’s episode I’m talking with functional nutritionist Risa Groux, who believes in a customized approach to nutrition. Risa’s FoodFrame approach matches you with one of seven eating lifestyles that are based on sustainable choices that work for YOU and your body. In this conversation Risa really demystifies a lot of the common confusion around everything from carbs to collagen, gut health to healthy fats. Make food fun again by listening to this episode of the Mother of Reinvention show!

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About Risa

Risa Groux, CN is a Functional Nutritionist in Newport Beach, California. Functional nutrition is based on the approach that the body can heal naturally with food and nutritional supplement support once root causes of a health concern are uncovered.

Rooted in this systems biology-based approach, Risa developed the FoodFrame™ method, Risa’s Recipes, and RGN products to determine an appropriate nutrition plan based on symptoms and health concerns. Watch for Risa's book, FoodFrame, coming out this fall.

Episode Links

Visit Risa's website to learn more about her practice and functional nutrition.Learn more about the FoodFrame method.Be sure to catch up on all of the episodes of Mother of Reinvention.

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Have you ever wondered why some habits can be so hard to change, no matter how much willpower we throw at them? The more we choose (or avoid!) a behavior, the more that choice gets wired into our neural pathways until it hardly even feels like a choice anymore. In this episode I talk with mind-body wellness practitioner Emily Huber how she helps clients create healthier lifestyles with several modalities, including a step-by-step meditation process called Neurosculpting® that can help you rewire your neural pathways so that healthier choices actually start to seem like second nature.

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Photograph by Angela Jimenez Photography http://www.angelajimenezphotography.com.

About Emily

Emily Huber earned her degree in Massage Therapy from The Swedish Institute, College of Health Sciences, in 2003. Emily's focus, has been to create a mind, body, and spirit practice, and movements, that are specifically geared towards women. Over the years, she also became a reiki master, a registered yoga instructor, certified personal trainer, certified wellness coach and certified Neurosculpting® facilitator. Emily loves sharing the 5-step NeuroSculpting®  process individually, as well as incorporating it into therapeutic bodywork, reshaping yoga classes, and wellness coaching. 

Emily lives and works in St. Joseph Michigan, and is currently offering  group, partner and individual sessions and classes through Zoom and in person at her Body Brain Balance studio.

Episode Links

Visit Emily's website to learn more about her and the services she offers!Want to schedule a session with Emily? Click here to view her schedule if you are local or want to join via Zoom.Don't forget to catch up on our latest episodes at MotherofReinventionShow.com

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When I first met Maria Rosner, she was a cool 40-something yoga instructor with older kids, and I was a mom of four kids under 11, pregnant with my fifth baby, and had just moved to a small town in southwest Michigan. Now, I’m about the age she was then, and she’s still a cool older yoga instructor embracing city life in Chicago. In this sometimes irreverent conversation Maria and I discuss the physical and spiritual sides of yoga, looking and feeling good as we get older, and how to embrace our lives and choices so that we can create our own narratives.

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About

Maria Rosner has been teaching yoga for almost 20 years, in Chicago and her second home in Southwest Michigan. As a lifelong athlete and fitness enthusiast, Maria discovered yoga at a physically and mentally stressful time in her life. The effects of yoga on her health and wellness were so profound that she made it her vocation toteach. Maria sees every moment as an opportunity—to embrace life, to care for others, and to love without judgment.

Maria currently teaches at several of Chicago’s premiere yoga and fitness studios, including Yogaview, East Bank Club, Midtown Athletic Club, Equinox, and the Chicago Athletic Clubs. When she’s not teaching yoga, Maria goes to as many concerts as she can, loves to cook for friends and family, and drives her vintage 1971 Buick Riviera around Southwest Michigan.

Episode Links

Maria's instagram handle is @yoga.maria. Follow to learn more about naked bicycling (and other things.)You can also follow find more information on her yoga classes on her Facebook Page: @mariarosneryoga Wanting more MOR? Click here for all the already aired episodes to binge.

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