To 50 and Beyond | Midlife and Alcohol-Free Lifestyle

In this episode of To 50 and Beyond Podcast, we have invited Jean McCarthy, award-winning blogger and the host of The Bubble Hour podcast and is a strong voice of recovery advocacy. Her book "The Ember Ever There: Poems on Change, Grief, Growth, Recovery, and Rediscovery" was released in June 2020. She is also the author of the book "UnPickled Holiday Survival Guide: Staying Alcohol-Free During the Festive Season," a resource about sobriety for people in recovery and their families.

Her blog UnPickled (8,000+ followers) began in 2011 and has continued to chronicle Jean's alcohol-free lifestyle since her first day of sobriety. Thousands of readers credit UnPickled as a motivating factor in their decision to quit drinking. Jean joined The Bubble Hour podcast as a co-host in 2013. She took over the weekly program as its sole producer and host in 2016. The show has a devoted and enthusiastic listenership with more than 60,000 monthly downloads.

Jean is a former performing songwriter with two albums of original music to her credit. Fans of the podcast are familiar with the show's theme song "I Own It," a single from Jean's 2008 album, "Blessings and Burdens." At a gala in New York City, Jean was named the recipient of the 2017 SheRecovers Hope Award in recognition of her efforts to help others seek positive changes in their lives. Today, Jean dives into a conversation about recovery from alcohol dependency and how you can love yourself.

Topics discussed:

• Jean's perimenopause and menopause
• Alcoholism and Jean's road to recovery
• Embracing the label of addiction
• Exploring new pathways to sobriety
• Self-care in sobriety and aging
• Jean's experience with botox and fillers
• Loving yourself as you age
• Jean's reading of a poem from her book, The Ember Ever There

To learn more about Jean:

Website: https://jeanmccarthy.ca/

Blog: https://unpickledblog.com/

Podcast: https://TheBubbleHour.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeanmccarthy_ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unpickled

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

Resources Mentioned:

"The Ember Ever There" by Jean McCarthy

I appreciate you listening to this episode, if you like the podcast, please take a couple of minutes to leave a rating and review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/to50andbeyond

To join the To 50 and Beyond inner circle, click here:

https://www.patreon.com/to50andbeyond?fan_landing=true

To learn more about coaching and join Elevate, click here:

https://www.lorimassicot.com/elevatenow

To learn more about Private Coaching, click here:

https://www.lorimassicot.com/privatecoaching

You are not alone if you've heard "you're too sensitive!" and you don't need to "fix" anything about you. You are not alone, my friend. In this episode, #156, invited Mel Collins, a UK author of the book "The Handbook for Highly Sensitive People - How to Transform Feeling Overwhelmed and Frazzled to Empowered and Fulfilled." Before dedicating her time to writing and teaching, Mel is also a spiritual life coach, qualified psychotherapeutic counselor, spiritual healer, reiki master, intuitive, and HSP consultant. She was in a senior management position in a prison service then decided to study extensively under the late Jungian Psychotherapist, Dr. Roger Woolger, in past-life regression therapy and Ancestral Healing. Today, Mel dives into a conversation about Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs), their correlation to addiction, its gifts and abilities, and why you should embrace it. Topics discussed in this episode:

• Mel's view on aging and menopause
• Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) information
• Mel's story of discovering HSP
• Coping strategies for HSP's
• Drinking as an HSP and addiction
• Changing your drinking as an HSP
• Mel's time in working in the Prison Service
• Mel's book writing
• Overcoming roadblocks
• The gifts of being an HSP

Learn more about Mel: Website: www.melcollins.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelCollins444 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.melcollins.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melcollins444/ Resources Mentioned: "The Highly Sensitive Person" by Dr. Elaine N. Aron "The Handbook for Highly Sensitive People: How to Transform Feeling Overwhelmed and Frazzled to Empowered and Fulfilled" by Mel Collins Thank you so much for listening! I appreciate you! If you like the podcast, please take a couple of minutes to leave a rating and review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/to50andbeyond Visit my website for more resources on aging alcohol free: https://www.lorimassicot.com/ To join the To 50 and Beyond inner circle, click here: https://www.patreon.com/to50andbeyond?fan_landing=true To learn more about coaching and join Elevate, click here: https://www.lorimassicot.com/elevatenow To learn more about Private Coaching, click here: https://www.lorimassicot.com/privatecoaching

Episode 155

What beliefs do you have about yourself? Are your beliefs holding you back from becoming the person you want to become? Well, this episode is for you. Today we have an opportunity to hear from Cody Kreutz. Cody has an amazing personal transformation journey that you cannot afford to miss.

Besides having an incredible personal transformation journey, his recovery journey is unbelievable! Cody went from alcohol to drugs. When Cody started doing drugs, his life went from bad to worse. He became hopeless and lost his self-worth. Self- hate hit in, and suicidal thoughts started kicking in. He once tried taking away his life, but it was unsuccessful. Cody got help, and he is now on a mission to help people transform their lives.

Cody Kreutz is a YouTuber, podcaster, and speaker with over seven years of recovery from addiction. Cody and his wife host the podcast, We Are the Stigma, where they chat with like-minded individuals on how to persevere while simultaneously breaking the stigma. They aim to explore all types of circumstances, beliefs, and experiences, using honesty, open-mindedness, and humor. Cody lives in San Diego with his amazing wife and three beautiful children.

Topics discussed:

• How Cody didn't know what a limiting belief was until 39
• How Cody's spiritual awakening happened in 2020
• Cody's personal transformation
• Cody's recovery journey
• Cody's daily routine: What does Cody do to support his transformation and awakening
• What's next for Cody?
• Cody's podcast - We Are the Stigma

Relevant Links:

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

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc77ySwX8_xn_AlYci3paYw

We Are The Stigma Podcast http://wearethestigma.com/

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

The 5 Am Club- Robin Sharma

Good Vibes, Good Life- Vex Kings

I appreciate you listening to this episode, if you like the podcast, please take a couple of minutes to leave a rating and review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/to50andbeyond

To join the To 50 and Beyond inner circle, click here:

https://www.patreon.com/to50andbeyond?fan_landing=true

To learn more about coaching and join Elevate, click here:

https://www.lorimassicot.com/elevatenow

To learn more about Private Coaching, click here:

https://www.lorimassicot.com/privatecoaching

Episode 154

Being sober is a whole NEW VIBE.

It's beautiful and messy, and you feel freedom like you've never experienced.

It's a vibe that we long for and when we experience it we want to celebrate the fact that we're here! We've made it!

You are not alone and there isn't anything wrong with you if you've celebrated sober progress with a drink.

It's within you to choose celebration without alcohol and the more you do, the more you realize that your past celebrations are much more enjoyable without the after-effects of the drink.

You don't have to celebrate with alcohol.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why alcohol is considered celebratory
• Why you're not boring or bored with sobriety
• How to celebrate the heck out of everyday so that occasional celebrations become fun again without alcohol.
• What to do when you feel like drinking to celebrate
• How to make sober activities enjoyable

No matter where you are on this alcohol-free journey, I'm cheering for you!

I appreciate you listening to this episode, if you like the podcast, please take a couple of minutes to leave a rating and review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/to50andbeyond

To join the To 50 and Beyond inner circle, click here:

https://www.patreon.com/to50andbeyond?fan_landing=true

To learn more about coaching and join Elevate, click here:

https://www.lorimassicot.com/elevatenow

Send me an email and say hello!

Did you brush your teeth this morning or make your bed?

Congratulations, you've just completed a tiny habit!

One tiny action may seem insignificant towards your (big) desired outcome or goals, but small habits help you progress, celebrate yourself, and create long-lasting change.

In this bonus episode, I talk about creating one small tiny habit today to boost your confidence and prove that you can do hard things to reach your biggest desires.

Topics discussed:

• What tiny habits are
• Why it's essential to create tiny habits towards the desired behavior you want to change or add to your life
• How to create one small (less than 30-second) habit today
• How to celebrate your progress by saying, "yay, me!"
• The principles for creating tiny habits from the book, Tiny Habits, by BJ Fogg, PhD

The resource used: Tiny Habits, by BJ Fogg, PhD

I thank you for listening and supporting the podcast.

If you have a couple of minutes, please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review here: https://ratethispodcast.com/to50andbeyond

Your testimonials mean the world to me and help me reach more women who are just like you.

If you are ready to create some new tiny habits and explore an alcohol-free lifestyle, check out my group coaching program, Elevate here: https://www.lorimassicot.com/elevatenow

Please visit my website for more information and resources to help you ROCK your very best self, To 50 and Beyond.

Episode #153 Simplicity with Courtney Carver How many clothes do you have in your closet, and how many of those clothes do you wear now and then? We can all agree that having too many clothes in the closet makes it difficult to decide what we want to wear. To help us solve the too many clothes problem, we have Courtney Carver joining us on the show. She will be telling us about Project 333 and how we can apply it in our lives. Courtney will also share her simplicity journey and how it affected her life. Have you been struggling with alcohol? Courtney will tell us how she broke off her relationship with alcohol. Listen in as Courtney shares her story and wisdom with us. Key Talking Points of the Episode:

• Courtney's age and how she feels about it
• Courtney's journey to simplicity
• Project 333: How was project 333 born?
• Rules of Project 333
• Courtney's membership
• How Courtney broke her relationship with alcohol
• What's next for Courtney?
• Courtney's morning routine
• Courtney's podcast: Soul and Wit
• Soulful simplicity book by Courtney
• What does simplicity feel like to Courtney?

Relevant Links: Be More with Less https://bemorewithless.com/ Soul and Wit https://www.soulandwit.com/ Project 333 Challenge https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/ Project 333 Book – Courtney Carver https://www.amazon.com/Project-333-Minimalist-Fashion-Challenge/dp/0525541454 Soulful Simplicity Book- Courtney Carver https://www.amazon.com/Soulful-Simplicity-Living-Less-Lead/dp/0143130684 Soul and Wit Podcast https://bemorewithless.com/soul-wit-podcast/ Soul and Wit Instagram https://www.instagram.com/soulandwitpodcast/?hl=en Be More with Less Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bemorewithless/?hl=en To find Lori: Website Email Instagram Join Elevate, group coaching program.

Episode 152

The five most comforting words put together in one beautiful, simple sentence: I know how you feel or I feel this way too.

When you connect first with yourself, and then with others fear dissipates, shame begins to dissolve, and you build confidence and trust in yourself.

You become certain that you are all you need, and you become very aware that alcohol isn't required in any area of your life.

In this episode, I'm going to help you explore connecting to yourself simply and deeply, and why we need connection as we get older and get sober, and the power of community in aging and sobriety.

To learn more about Elevate group coaching, click here.

Please reach out to me if you need support by sending me an email here.

Please take a minute to rate and review the podcast so more women just like you can find the podcast.

I appreciate your support and your rating and review mean the world to me!

Rate and review.

Episode 151 When you quit drinking, you save money because you're not buying alcohol, but you also realize that money wasn't the only thing costing you while drinking. My brilliant and beautiful guest, Linda Parmar, is joining the podcast for the third time today to share her truth and her wisdom. Linda is a Certified Money Coach/Recovery Coach who helps women with their relationship with money. She uses her coaching programs to inspire women worldwide to transform their lives and money mindset experience, creating a new story. Linda shares her experience with addiction and her cost; she spent approximately $400 per week on alcohol, which affected her financial situation and mostly her physical and mental health. Other Topics:

• Removing your old money mindset story.
• Relapse in Financial Recovery and how to pick yourself back up
• Finding Financial Freedom beyond debt
• Invest in yourself; you are going to spend money anyways.
• The shit you did is not who you are.
• Drinking and aging is stigma.
• Money is energy; resistance and money don't work together.

To find Linda: Download Linda's Spending Worksheet (freebie): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UTg8pbRhRRfRHJsAxylbFK4PlcovieaL/view?usp=sharing https://www.lindaparmar.com/ https://www.facebook.com/lindaparmarcoaching https://www.instagram.com/lindaparmarcoach/ https://www.lindaparmar.com/podcast To find Lori: Website Instagram Email I thank you for listening, friend. If you liked this episode, please consider taking a couple of minutes to rate and review it on your favorite podcast app. https://ratethispodcast.com/to50andbeyond If you love the podcast, please consider donating $5 to the mission of To 50 and Beyond. Your donation helps me keep the podcast going and add to your life by creating exclusive bonus episodes and a monthly meetup where we can talk about all things midlife. Join To 50 and Beyond & Friends Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/to50andbeyond?fan_landing=true Sending you a Virtual Hug!

Bonus episode

On February 5th I celebrate three years of podcasting.

Throughout the past few years, I've come to the realization that being scared to do something is the reason why you should, and you CAN figure out how to do anything you want.

I'm celebrating you for listening, sharing, and allowing me into your life weekly since 2018.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting this pod into your ears.

Season Five is coming February 16th. Stay in the loop by joining my email community.

You can find me on my website or say hello on Instagram.

I appreciate your rating and review! Help me spread the word so the podcast reaches women in the middle of life.

Please rate and review the podcast on your favorite app: https://ratethispodcast.com/to50andbeyond

Episode 150

Go All In Messy vs. Perfect

This episode is all about embracing imperfection and taking imperfect action towards where you want to be in life

I share a story of something that happened to me last week that had me beating up over something very simple to solve.

Other topics:

• Removing old stories of "I am a Perfectionist" to get messy
• Not holding yourself back because of old stories (getting sober)
• Starting something for yourself even though you are scared
• Making friends with fear and vulnerability to change your life

We are all in this life together and there is no one better than you.

Thank you for listening!

If you enjoy the podcast, can you please give it a rating and review?

Please rate and review the podcast here: https://ratethispodcast.com/to50andbeyond

Please consider supporting the podcast with a $5 monthly donation here: https://www.patreon.com/to50andbeyond?fan_landing=true

Reach out to Lori: https://www.lorimassicot.com

Join Elevate: https://www.lorimassicot.com/elevatenow