Women Seeking Blissful Retirement

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

What happens when you retire and finally have time to explore an idea that has been quietly sitting in your mind?

For Paula Panariello, it became the beginning of an entirely new passion.

After 30 years as a registered nurse, Paula retired with an idea for a story she couldn't stop thinking about. She had always loved reading romance novels, but she had never considered herself a writer—or even thought she was particularly good at writing. Still, she decided to put her ideas on paper.

The encouragement and positive feedback she received gave her the confidence to keep going. What started as an experiment eventually became a new creative passion and led Paula to writing and publishing Regency historical romance novels.

In this episode, Paula shares her journey from nurse to novelist and what she discovered along the way. We talk about how she got started, what she does when she gets stuck, the new skills she had to learn, and how she navigated the process of publishing her books.

Paula also explains how her years as a nurse helped shape the complex, deeply human characters in her stories. Her understanding of love, loss, anger, frustration, and the many ways people respond to life gives her novels a unique perspective.

Most importantly, Paula's story shows what can happen when you give yourself the opportunity to try something you've never done before.

**You may be surprised by the passion you discover in retirement.**

Tune in and be inspired by Paula's remarkable journey from caring for patients to creating stories that bring her own imagination to life.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

I write for my own joy, free from the pressure of perfection.

GUEST BIO

Paula Panariello is from a small town in Western Pennsylvania.

In her previous career, Paula was a registered nurse for thirty years. She has been an avid reader of romance novels and had the idea for a good story running through her head.

After retirement, she decided it was time to put her ideas on paper. Paula views human emotions as intricate and unique as snowflakes. Love, loss, anger, and frustration elicit vastly different responses, a truth often glossed over in predictable plots of typical romance novels. Drawing on her experiences with patients and families, Paula infuses her characters with depth and complexity, breathing fresh life into the genre.

Paula is currently working on the Necklace series and hopes you enjoy the world of the Stanhope family.

Here is how to get in touch with guest speaker Paula Panariello:

Website: Paulapan.com

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life? Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement

Love to hear from you!

Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected] or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

It's my gift to you because every woman deserves a retirement that excites her!

Do you want to master your time by allocating time for structured appointments, weekly activities, and also leave time for spontaneous adventures? I have created the Vibrant Retirement Planner to help you stay more focused and embrace new opportunities.

This is a digital monthly planner designed to make your retirement more intentional and fulfilling:

• Daily activity planning to keep your days engaging and meaningful

• Habit tracking to help you build and maintain routines that support your wellbeing

• Affirmations to keep you motivated and focused on a positive mindset

• Reflection questions to guide your personal growth and ensure you're living rour retirement with intention.

Get the planner and try it out! Let me know what you think about and how it helps you.

What happens when the retirement you dreamed about doesn't turn out the way you expected?

Mary Zahorsky thought she knew what her retirement would look like. She had a vision for her life in Florida and took the leap—only to discover that something important was missing. Eventually, she made another bold decision: she returned to Minnesota.

Was that a failure? Or was it actually the beginning of understanding what she truly wanted from her next chapter?

In this honest and inspiring conversation, Mary and I explore what was behind her decision to move to Florida, what she discovered once she got there, and what she realized she needed that ultimately brought her back home.

And along the way, we uncover a powerful question that every woman approaching or living in retirement may want to ask herself: What if changing your plans isn't failing? What if it's how you find your way to the life that really fits you?

Retirement today is no longer simply about stopping work and filling your days with travel, gardening, or time with the grandchildren. It can be a third act filled with purpose, passion, connection, possibility—and perhaps even income.

Mary and I also talk about some of the practical pieces that can help create a more successful retirement, from building your social connections before you retire to being thoughtful about debt and making strategic Social Security decisions.

But this conversation goes much deeper than financial or lifestyle planning. Because sometimes the things we label as "failures" are actually turning points. They give us the courage to look again, listen to ourselves, and make a different choice.

If your retirement plans have changed—or if you're wondering whether the life you imagine after work will truly make you happy—this episode is for you. You don't have to get retirement "right" the first time. You have permission to explore, adjust, begin again, and create a next chapter that feels authentically yours.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

This chapter is a fresh canvas for my passions and creativity.

GUEST BIO

Mary Zahorsky is a Spiritual Life Coach who works with people through the later seasons of life to escape the relentless hustle of corporate life to design a life aligned with what they truly desire.

Through ZVision, Mary guides her clients to experience authentic transformation through reconnecting, clarifying, and committing to building a life that feels genuinely theirs.

Working with curiosity and powerful questions, Mary believes that lasting change happens when people are able to uncover their own wisdom. Her approach honors both the practical and the profound, grounding clients in real action while inviting them to connect with something larger than themselves.

Mary's signature offering, Drift Less, Manifest More is a weekend retreat designed to help people move from the scattered energy of drifting through life into a state of aligned flow connecting with their deeper desires. Through her coaching packages and retreat experiences, she supports clients across the full spectrum of their transformation journey, from initial clarity and vision work through sustained commitment and action. Mary draws inspiration from nature, travel, and the profound practice of stillness.

Here is how to get in touch with guest speaker Mary Zahorsky: [email protected] Website: www.zvisioncoaching.com Y

ou can get the free self-assessment resource Mary mentioned in the podcast here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/WY5Z4bp/ZVision

The Future is calling you. This assessment is designed to help you recognize the subtle patterns shaping your life and reconnect with the possibilities calling for your attention. Through a self-assessment, reflection, and Mary Zahorsky's 5D Framework, you'll discover how to move from reacting to circumstances toward consciously creating what comes next.

What You'll Discover:

• Why some people seem to create their future while others wait for it
• The hidden impact of drift and doubt on your decisions
• How daydreams often reveal clues about your deepest desires
• Practical ways to create greater direction and momentum
• Which element of the 5D Formula deserves your attention right now
• A simple next step toward a more intentional future

Mary also has a retreat planned for September 18-21, 2026.

Drift Less, Manifest More; Flow into the future

A transformational retreat at the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers. Consciously shifting the direction of your life and leadership You can get all the details for this special event here:

https://www.wetravel.com/trips/drift-less-manifest-morezvision-3300943351#about-this-trip

Other ways to learn from Mary or connect with her:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryzahorsky

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life?

Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement

Love to hear from you!

Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected]

or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

If you are retiring soon or made this step recently, and you are worried about being bored, not longer valuable for what you do and wonder what is next, knowing that there's more that you want from life, I get it.

As someone who's been single all her life and had to adapt to feel at home, build new connections and find a new identity, I know that it takes effort, time and curiosity to create a happy fulfilling life.

I work with women who are anxious and worried about the transition into their retirement so they can see the opportunities this next chapter offers.

• How can you create more fun and enjoyment outside your career and family?
• Are you looking for quiet time and less distractions so you can finally focus on what you want in retirement?
• How many dreams have you placed on hold while waiting for "someday"?

Do you want to meet and share your thoughts, ideas and plans with other women who are in the same situation in a safe place knowing you will be heard?

There is something that happens when women come together in person—especially at this stage of life. You realize you're not alone. You hear your own thoughts spoken out loud by someone else. You tell the truth—sometimes for the first time in years.

This kind of shift doesn't happen in isolation. It happens in relationship, reflection, and real conversation. I think there is a moment that we realize that something we keep delaying needs our attention.

If this resonates with you I developed a small intimate program for women who want to dream and explore possibilities to create a blissful next chapter with vitality, joyful experiences and empowering connections.

The Your Blissful Next Chapter Retreat take place from September 18-20, 2026 in beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida.

This Retreat is a 3-day, in-person experience for women who are done circling the same questions and are ready to step forward with clarity and confidence. Through guided reflection, honest conversation, and shared experience, you'll release outdated expectations, reconnect with what truly matters to you, and practice showing up as the woman you are becoming.

This is not about reinvention or starting over—it's about claiming your next chapter with intention, courage, and support. You don't need to know exactly what's next. You just need to know you don't want to stay where you are.

Choosing yourself now doesn't just change your life. It changes how you show up in every relationship you care about. This is not a leap. It's a step—into the life you've been preparing for.

If you're ready to explore who you are becoming, I would be honored to walk with you. Registration is now open. https://marialucassen.kartra.com/page/yourblissfulnextchapter

Spots are limited by design, because the experience is personal. If you would like to talk about whether the retreat is right for you, call me. I'd be happy to have a conversation.

https://MariaLucassenHQ.as.me/NextChapter or email me at [email protected]

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Losing the person you've shared your life with changes everything. Along with the heartbreak comes uncertainty, loneliness, and the question so many women quietly ask themselves:

"What does my life look like now?"

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with grief recovery expert Dr. Lynn Banis to talk about one of life's most difficult transitions—losing a spouse and learning how to move forward with hope.

Together, we explore why grief can feel so isolating, why so many people struggle to talk about it, and what truly helps during the healing process. Dr. Banis shares her own personal journey through loss and the lessons she learned as she rebuilt a meaningful life after becoming a widow.

We also discuss: • Why grief is different for everyone—and why there is no "right" timeline. • Simple but meaningful ways to support someone who is grieving. • How a woman begins to rediscover herself after years of being part of a couple. • The difference between traditional grief support groups and the personalized guidance Dr. Banis offers to help women create a fulfilling future.

If you've experienced the loss of a spouse—or you love someone who has—this episode offers compassionate encouragement, practical wisdom, and a gentle reminder that while grief becomes part of your story, it doesn't have to define the rest of your life.

Healing doesn't mean forgetting. It means honoring your past while giving yourself permission to embrace the future.

I hope this conversation reminds you that even after life's deepest losses, new possibilities can still unfold, and it's never too late to create a life filled with purpose, connection, and hope.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

Grief gives me wings with which I spread love

GUEST BIO

Best-selling author Dr. Lynn Banis is a transformational speaker and life reinvention expert who helps individuals navigate life's most profound challenges. After experiencing the loss of her mother, brother, and husband within three years, she turned personal tragedy into a powerful mission.

Dr. Banis provides a compassionate approach to guide individuals through grief and major life transitions, offering practical tools to re-evaluate priorities, redesign their future, and rebuild a fulfilling life.

Her message goes beyond resilience, focusing on reinvention and empowerment. Through heart-centered talks and transformational coaching, Dr. Banis helps her audience move forward with clarity and confidence.

She empowers individuals to break free from the weight of loss, fear, and uncertainty, guiding them towards a life that feels meaningful, authentic, and truly their own.

Discover how to reclaim purpose, joy, and create an extraordinary next chapter with best-selling author Dr. Lynn Banis.

Here is how to get in touch with guest speaker Dr. Lynn Banis: [email protected]

Website: womenrisingtogether.org

You can get the free resources Dr. Lynn Banis mentioned in the podcast on her website:

How to support a grieving friend : https://widowsrisingtogether.com/grieving-friend-landing

Also, a great guide for women who become widow: https://widowsrisingtogether.com/roadmap-landing

Other ways to learn from Dr Lynn or connect with her:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-banis-36987b2aa/

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

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life? Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement

Love to hear from you!

Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected] or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

If you are retiring soon or made this step recently, and you are worried about being bored, not longer valuable for what you do and wonder what is next, knowing that there's more that you want from life, I get it.

As someone who's been single all her life and had to adapt to feel at home, build new connections and find a new identity, I know that it takes effort, time and curiosity to create a happy fulfilling life.

I work with women who are anxious and worried about the transition into their retirement so they can see the opportunities this next chapter offers.

How can you create more fun and enjoyment outside your career and family?

Are you looking for quiet time and less distractions so you can finally focus on what you want in retirement?

How many dreams have you placed on hold while waiting for "someday"?

Do you want to meet and share your thoughts, ideas and plans with other women who are in the same situation in a safe place knowing you will be heard?

There is something that happens when women come together in person—especially at this stage of life.

You realize you're not alone. You hear your own thoughts spoken out loud by someone else. You tell the truth—sometimes for the first time in years.

This kind of shift doesn't happen in isolation. It happens in relationship, reflection, and real conversation.

I think there is a moment that we realize that something we keep delaying needs our attention. If this resonates with you I developed a small intimate program for women who want to dream and explore possibilities to create a blissful next chapter with vitality, joyful experiences and empowering connections.

The Your Blissful Next Chapter Retreat takes place from September 18-20, 2026 in beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida.

This Retreat is a 3-day, in-person experience for women who are done circling the same questions and are ready to step forward with clarity and confidence. Through guided reflection, honest conversation, and shared experience, you'll release outdated expectations, reconnect with what truly matters to you, and practice showing up as the woman you are becoming. This is not about reinvention or starting over—it's about claiming your next chapter with intention, courage, and support.

You don't need to know exactly what's next. You just need to know you don't want to stay where you are.

Choosing yourself now doesn't just change your life. It changes how you show up in every relationship you care about.

This is not a leap. It's a step—into the life you've been preparing for.

If you're ready to explore who you are becoming, I would be honored to walk with you.

Registration is now open. Spots are limited by design, because the experience is personal.

If you would like to talk about whether the retreat is right for you, call me. I'd be happy to have a conversation

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Life can change in an instant. For many women, the loss of a spouse brings not only heartbreak but also a new set of financial responsibilities that can feel unfamiliar and overwhelming.

But while widowhood marks the end of one chapter, it can also become the beginning of a journey toward greater confidence, independence, and personal strength.

In this inspiring conversation, retirement coach Maria Lucassen welcomes financial advisor Paula Harris to discuss how women can navigate the financial side of widowhood with clarity and confidence. Drawing from her years of helping widowed women rebuild their financial lives, Paula shares practical strategies for managing the transition, avoiding costly mistakes, and making thoughtful decisions during an emotional time.

Together, they explore how confidence grows one step at a time, why having trusted people in your corner matters, and how financial knowledge can become a source of empowerment rather than anxiety. Paula also offers valuable advice for married women who want to become more involved in their finances today so they can feel prepared for whatever the future may bring.

This episode is a reminder that while we can't always choose the challenges life presents, we can choose how we respond to them. With the right support, information, and mindset, it is possible to move from uncertainty to confidence and create a future filled with security, purpose, and possibility.

Whether you're facing this transition yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply planning ahead, you'll find encouragement, practical wisdom, and hope in this meaningful conversation.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH: I pledge to be gentle with myself as I plow through grief

GUEST BIO Paula Harris, co-founder at WH Cornerstone Investments is part financial planner and part dream architect, who takes great pride in helping her clients, particularly widowed women, obtain financial peace of mind while they get back on their feet, rise up and navigate their path forward. Paula is a TEDx speaker and author of "Rise Up: A Widow's Journal" and "Rise Up: A Grief Journal" available on Amazon. She enjoys assisting people in the life planning that goes hand-in-hand with financial planning. Tune into her YouTube channel called Wisdom Wednesday | Paula Harris for "Your Weekly Dose of Positivity."

Here is how to get in touch with guest speaker Paula Harris: Website: www.whcornerstone.com.

You can get the free resources such as the Curve Ball Life Planning workbooks mentioned by Paula here: https://whcornerstone.com/resources

Also, a great guide for women who become widow: https://cdn.zephyrcms.com/172348c5-1b39-4362-86f6-7be20b307d6f/-/inline/yes/whc-widow-resources-guide-2025.pdf

Other ways to learn from Paula or connect with her: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaharris/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wh-cornerstone-investments/ https://www.instagram.com/whcornerstone/ https://www.facebook.com/WHCornerstone https://x.com/PaulaHarris https://www.youtube.com/@whcornerstoneinvestments

CONNECT with MARIA Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life? Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement Love to hear from you! Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected] or use the contact page. ACTION STEP It's my gift to you because every woman deserves a retirement that excites her! Do you want to master your time by allocating time for structured appointments, weekly activities, and also leave time for spontaneous adventures? I have created the Vibrant Retirement Planner to help you stay more focused and embrace new opportunities.

This is a digital monthly planner designed to make your retirement more intentional and fulfilling: • Daily activity planning to keep your days engaging and meaningful • Habit tracking to help you build and maintain routines that support your wellbeing • Affirmations to keep you motivated and focused on a positive mindset • Reflection questions to guide your personal growth and ensure you're living rour retirement with intention. Get the planner and try it out! Let me know what you think about and how it helps you.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

What if the perfect time to start living your bucket list life… is now?

So many women spend decades working hard, caring for others, checking boxes, and telling themselves that someday there will finally be time for the dreams that matter most. The trip to see the Northern Lights. Learning a new skill. Running a marathon. Reinventing themselves in a new career or passion project.

But what happens when "someday" keeps moving further away?

In this uplifting and eye-opening episode, Lisa Sakai and I challenge the belief that life only begins at retirement. We explore why waiting too long to pursue your dreams can quietly steal years of joy, energy, confidence, and unforgettable experiences—and why it's never too early to begin living more intentionally.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that your bucket list is not selfish. It is not frivolous. It is a reflection of the life you deeply want to experience while you still have the health, freedom, curiosity, and courage to enjoy it fully.

Together, Lisa and I talk about how women can start creating meaningful experiences now while still planning wisely for the future. Because building financial security and building a meaningful life do not have to compete with each other.

Most importantly, this episode will inspire you to stop seeing your dreams as distant possibilities and start seeing them as part of the life you are creating right now.

Maybe your bucket list is not about crossing off destinations.

Maybe it is about becoming the woman who finally gives herself permission to live boldly, joyfully, and fully awake to life.

So instead of asking: "Can I afford to do this someday?"

Maybe the better question is: "What experiences am I no longer willing to postpone?"

Because this chapter of life was never meant to be spent waiting on the sidelines. It was meant to be lived.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

Have the courage to live your life the way you want to

GUEST BIO

Lisa Sakai is a Financial Consultant who works with clients on Bucket List Acceleration, getting to live the life they want now. As the co-founder of One Vision Retirement, she has been working with clients across the country for over 14 years. Lisa's advice provides easy to understand, baby steps that people can take action on right away.

Here is how to get in touch with guest speaker Lisa Sakai:

by email: [email protected]

Website: www.onevisionretire.com

You can get the free resources such as the Dream Big Checklist mentioned by Lisa here: https://www.onevisionretire.com/resources

Other ways to learn from Lisa or connect with her:

• https://www.youtube.com/@financialfreedomwithlisa;
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasakai/;
• https://www.instagram.com/yourfinancialvisionyourway/

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life? Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement

Love to hear from you!

Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected] or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

It's my gift to you because every woman deserves a retirement that excites her!

Do you want to master your time by allocating time for structured appointments, weekly activities, and also leave time for spontaneous adventures? I have created the Vibrant Retirement Planner to help you stay more focused and embrace new opportunities.

This is a digital monthly planner designed to make your retirement more intentional and fulfilling:

• Daily activity planning to keep your days engaging and meaningful
• Habit tracking to help you build and maintain routines that support your wellbeing
• Affirmations to keep you motivated and focused on a positive mindset
• Reflection questions to guide your personal growth and ensure you're living rour retirement with intention.

Get the planner and try it out! Let me know what you think about and how it helps you.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

What if the next chapter of your life wasn't about doing more… but about experiencing more?

Today, so many women are realizing that what truly matters aren't the things we own—but the memories we create and the moments we share. And one of the most joyful, meaningful ways to do that? A girlfriend getaway.

In this uplifting conversation with Marita Littauer, we explore the power of stepping away from your everyday routine and reconnecting—with yourself and with the women who truly see you. Because these shared experiences aren't just "nice to have"… they can be deeply energizing, confidence-boosting, and even life-changing.

We'll also share simple, practical guidelines to help you plan a getaway that feels easy, fulfilling, and genuinely fun—without the stress or overwhelm. If you've been craving more connection, more laughter, and a little spark of adventure… this episode might just be your invitation to say yes.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

I thrive in the magic of unknown destinations and embrace new travel experiences

GUEST BIO

Speaker, Writer, Blogger, Author

From the age of nine, when Marita's parents began teaching The Personalities and her father developed the popular Personality Profile, Marita's life has been immersed in The Personalities. Many of her 20 books address the topic.

Today, Marita continues to speak and write on The Personalities, the subject of her best-selling book, Wired That Way. Through her online store, hundreds of people each month take the electronic version of the Wired That Way Personality Profile which helps them discover how embracing personality differences can lead to deeper connection, less conflict, and more peace in their most important relationships.

In 2025, she expanded her work by developing an online certification course, training men and women to teach The Personalities. Additionally, in the fall of 2022, Marita launched The Best-Life Project—a vibrant online resource designed to encourage and equip women over 60 to live their best life. Since its inception, the site has grown to feature hundreds of articles from numerous contributors covering topics relevant to women 60+.

Personally, as a hobby chef, Marita enjoys hosting dinner parties and often shares her recipes through social media and The Best-Life Project blog. She also creates custom, décor-specific, large-scale paintings—with pieces in homes from coast-to-coast. Marita attends sporting events with her husband, travels, and spends time with friends.

Here is how to get in touch with guest speaker Marita Littauer

Websites:

Best-LifeProject.com

ThePersonalities.com

You can get the article mentioned by Marita here: https://livingyourbestlife60plus.com/blog/2025/07/09/collecting-memories-with-a-girlfriend-getaway/

Social Media Channels:

https://www.facebook.com/people/Living-Your-Best-Life/100087919854157/

linkedin.com/in/marita-tedder-4a372712

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life? Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement

Love to hear from you!

Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected] or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

It's my gift to you because every woman deserves a retirement that excites her! Do you want to master your time by allocating time for structured appointments, weekly activities, and also leave time for spontaneous adventures?

I have created the Vibrant Retirement Planner to help you stay more focused and embrace new opportunities. This is a digital monthly planner designed to make your retirement more intentional and fulfilling:

• Daily activity planning to keep your days engaging and meaningful

• Habit tracking to help you build and maintain routines that support your wellbeing

• Affirmations to keep you motivated and focused on a positive mindset

• Reflection questions to guide your personal growth and ensure you're living rour retirement with intention.

Get the planner and try it out! Let me know what you think about and how it helps you.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

What if retirement isn't the "winter" of life… but the beginning of your spring?

After working for 40 years or more, many women step into retirement expecting life to slow down. The structure disappears, routines change, and suddenly a quiet question appears: Now what?

But what if this moment isn't an ending at all? What if it's the start of one of the most exciting, creative, and meaningful seasons of your life?

In this inspiring episode, we explore why retirement may actually be your spring season — a time to clear out old expectations, plant new dreams, and design a life that feels vibrant, fulfilling, and deeply yours.

If you're ready to rethink what retirement could truly become… this conversation might change how you see the years ahead.

The Spring Reset Exercise

A Simple Reflection to Begin Your Next Chapter

If today's episode resonated with you, I created a simple Spring Reset exercise you can download. It will help you reflect on where you are in this transition and take the very first step toward designing the next chapter of your life. Get the download of the workbook here.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

I am creating space for joy, peace, and new beginnings.

HOST BIO

Maria Lucassen, CEO of Maria Lucassen Coaching, is your go-to postcareer transition facilitator for a joyful retirement. With a career spanning over 45 years, Maria specializes in helping women to rediscover their purpose, build confidence, and embrace a life in retirement that's both fulfilling and affordable.

As a retired Corporate Tax Manager with a Master's degree, Maria offers a unique blend of expertise and personal experience. Her coaching isn't just about planning retirement; it's about rocking it. Additionally, Maria is a Certified Professional Retirement Coach who helps women create a happy, vibrant lifestyle in retirement that is affordable.

Maria's enthusiasm for retirement, coupled with a zest for life, sets her apart. She hosts the podcast Women Seeking Blissful Retirement, inspiring women worldwide to dream about the next chapter in the book of life. Having worked and lived globally, Maria's talks resonate with women from all walks of life.

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life?

Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement

Love to hear from you!

Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected] or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

It's my gift to you because every woman deserves a retirement that excites her!

Do you want to master your time by allocating time for structured appointments, weekly activities, and also leave time for spontaneous adventures?

I have created the Vibrant Retirement Planner to help you stay more focused and embrace new opportunities. This is a digital monthly planner designed to make your retirement more intentional and fulfilling:

• Daily activity planning to keep your days engaging and meaningful

• Habit tracking to help you build and maintain routines that support your wellbeing

• Affirmations to keep you motivated and focused on a positive mindset

• Reflection questions to guide your personal growth and ensure you're living rour retirement with intention.

Get the planner and try it out! Let me know what you think about and how it helps you.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Retirement is not a slow winding down.

It is a threshold.

And the question is not, "Do I have enough?"

The real question is, "Am I willing to step in fully?"

So many women arrive at this chapter financially prepared… yet quietly constrained. Constrained by old stories about aging. By hesitation about their bodies. By subtle fears of looking foolish, failing, or not being "naturally good" at something new.

In this powerful and encouraging conversation, I sit down with Cori Myka, founder of Calm Within Adult Swim, to talk about something deceptively simple — learning to swim as an adult.

Because learning to swim later in life is not really about swimming.

It's about stepping into the unknown.

It's about rebuilding trust with your body.

It's about calming fear instead of fighting it.

It's about choosing expansion over limitation.

We talk about fear, brain health, resilience, and why choosing something new in this season of life can reignite confidence everywhere else.

If there is something you have been avoiding — travel, movement, reinvention, visibility, even joy — this conversation may be the nudge you didn't know you needed.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

I can learn new things to broaden and strengthen my mind and abilities

GUEST BIO

With over 25 years in adult swim education, Cori Myka founded Calm Within Adult Swim to help adults overcome water fears. Her innovative blend of mental and physical techniques empowers students to build confidence in the water and experience personal growth.

Cori also certifies instructors, spreading her mission to make swimming an accessible and transformative experience for more adults.

Here is how to get in touch with guest speaker Cori Myka Website: adultswimlesson.com

You can get her free gift here: Free Introduction Class

Social Media Channels:

https://www.facebook.com/cori.myka

https://www.youtube.com/@adultswimlesson

https://www.facebook.com/calmwithinadultswim

https://www.instagram.com/calmwithinadultswim

https://www.facebook.com/OrcaSwimSchool

https://www.instagram.com/orcaswimsch

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life? Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE.

Love to hear from you!

Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected] or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

It's my gift to you because every woman deserves a retirement that excites her!

Do you want to master your time by allocating time for structured appointments, weekly activities, and also leave time for spontaneous adventures?

I have created the Vibrant Retirement Planner to help you stay more focused and embrace new opportunities. This is a digital monthly planner designed to make your retirement more intentional and fulfilling:

• Daily activity planning to keep your days engaging and meaningful

• Habit tracking to help you build and maintain routines that support your wellbeing

• Affirmations to keep you motivated and focused on a positive mindset

• Reflection questions to guide your personal growth and ensure you're living rour retirement with intention.

Get the planner and try it out! Let me know what you think about and how it helps you.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

The beginning of a new year has a way of stirring questions we can't ignore.

Especially after retirement.

If the calendar has turned and you're feeling restless, unsure, or quietly asking, "What's next for me now?" — this episode is an important place to start.

Retirement is supposed to feel like freedom.

But for many women, it also brings unexpected emptiness, loss of identity, and a sense of being untethered. January amplifies those feelings — the reflection, the pressure to have it all figured out, the sense that this year should look different. In this solo episode, I invite you to see retirement through a new lens: Not as an ending — but as a doorway.

You don't need a complete plan.

You don't need to reinvent your life.

You simply need to take the first intentional step.

I'll introduce you to my upcoming FREE 5-Day Challenge: How to Unlock the Door to Your Next Chapter, a gentle, guided experience designed to help you reconnect with purpose, energy, and possibility — without pressure or overwhelm.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why feeling unsettled in retirement is not a failure

• How to move from boredom and confusion into curiosity and clarity

• What it really means to feel alive in this season of life

• Why now — at the start of the year — is the perfect moment to begin

This episode matters because this year doesn't have to repeat last year.

A new chapter is waiting.

The door is already there.

All that's left is to unlock it.

EVENT

5-day Challenge "Unlocking the Door into Retirement"

Date: January 19 - 23, 2026 =====> NEW date: February 2 - 6, 2026

Click here to register for the FREE 5-day challenge

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

"I am allowed to want more — meaning, joy, purpose!"

HOST BIO

Maria Lucassen, CEO of Maria Lucassen Coaching, is your go-to postcareer transition facilitator for a joyful retirement. With a career spanning over 45 years, Maria specializes in helping women to rediscover their purpose, build confidence, and embrace a life in retirement that's both fulfilling and affordable.

As a retired Corporate Tax Manager with a Master's degree, Maria offers a unique blend of expertise and personal experience. Her coaching isn't just about planning retirement; it's about rocking it. Additionally, Maria is a Certified Professional Retirement Coach who helps women create a happy, vibrant lifestyle in retirement that is affordable.

Maria's enthusiasm for retirement, coupled with a zest for life, setsher apart. She hosts the podcast Women Seeking Blissful Retirement, inspiring women worldwide to dream about the next chapter in the book of life. Having worked and lived globally, Maria's talks resonate with women from all walks of life.

5-day Challenge: Unlocking the Door to Your Retirement

January 19, 2026 to January 23, 2026

Link to register: coming soon

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life? Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement

Love to hear from you!

Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected] or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

It's my gift to you because every woman deserves a retirement that excites her!

Do you want to master your time by allocating time for structured appointments, weekly activities, and also leave time for spontaneous adventures? I have created the Vibrant Retirement Planner to help you stay more focused and embrace new opportunities. This is a digital monthly planner designed to make your retirement more intentional and fulfilling:

• Daily activity planning to keep your days engaging and meaningful

• Habit tracking to help you build and maintain routines that support your wellbeing

• Affirmations to keep you motivated and focused on a positive mindset

• Reflection questions to guide your personal growth and ensure you're living rour retirement with intention.

Get the planner and try it out! Let me know what you think about it and how it helps you.

Episode Description

If your pill organizer is starting to feel like a part-time job, this conversation is going to be eye-opening. Women 55+ are at risk for medication overload, polypharmacy, and side effects that quietly chip away at independence, balance, energy, and brain clarity.

But this episode will change the way you look at your medication list forever.

This month, I sit down with Dr. Nancy Taylor, pharmacist and independent patient advocate, for a powerful conversation that every woman nearing retirement needs to hear. Dr. Nancy breaks down the truth about medication overload — why it's happening, how it creeps up slowly over the years, and what you can do TODAY to protect your energy, brain health, mobility, and confidence.

You'll learn how to:

• Reduce medication overload safely and intentionally

• Partner with your provider to review and streamline your prescriptions

• Spot red flags that signal unsafe or unnecessary medications

• Protect mobility, energy, and cognitive function as you age

We talk openly about the questions so many women hesitate to ask, like:

• What actually changes in our bodies after 55 — and why does it matter for medication safety?

• How do you question a doctor respectfully without feeling "difficult"?

• When is it the RIGHT time to talk about deprescribing or simplifying your regimen?

Dr. Nancy also reveals how a personalized comprehensive medication review can uncover hidden risks and give you the clarity, safety, and peace of mind every woman deserves as she enters her next chapter.

If you care about aging well and staying empowered, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Tune in — your future self will thank you.

AFFIRMATION of the MONTH:

I am willing to believe in my ability to create healing and optimal health.

GUEST BIO

Dr. Nancy A. Taylor is a pharmacist, Board-Certified Patient Advocate, Certified Senior Advisor, and founder of Taylormade Senior Advocacy & Consulting, where she helps women 55+ take control of their health through safer, smarter medication use. After more than two decades in community pharmacy, she saw how medication overload, menopause-related symptom treatment, and age-related physiology changes were quietly eroding women's independence.

She built her practice to change that. Today, Nancy designs personalized Healthcare Action Plans that simplify medication regimens, reduce side effects, and give women the clarity and confidence they need to age with strength—not with a growing pill count. Her work blends the precision of a pharmacist with the empowerment of true patient advocacy.

Nancy has been a featured speaker for national and community audiences, including the Healthcare Advocate Summit, the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy, Boomers Today, willGather.com, and multiple community education programs. She regularly teaches workshops on medication safety, transitions of care, Medicare education, and advance directives—core areas every woman over 55 should understand to stay independent and informed.

Guided by the words of her pharmacist father—"We are not just dispensing medicine, we are dispensing HOPE"—Nancy brings empathy, humor, and straight talk to every conversation. Her mission is simple: help women stay healthy, independent, and fully in control as they move into the next chapter of life.

Dr. Taylor continues to serve as a consulting pharmacist specializing in drug appropriateness, interactions, and polypharmacy in aging adults. She offers in-person and virtual workshops, corporate sessions, and one-on-one action planning.

Here is how to get in touch with guest speaker Dr. Nancy Taylor

Website: www.drtadvocacy.com

You can get her free gift here: free copy of Journey of HOPE (Personalized Healthcare Action Plan workbook) and join her newsletter for tips in navigating healthcare here: https://www.drtadvocacy.com/contact

Social Media Channels:

LinkdIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-nancy-a-taylor-pharmd-bcpa-csa-a569929a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076660611031

CONNECT with MARIA

Want to meet like-minded women that are just like you discovering their next chapter in life?

Join the Facebook group Women Seeking Blissful Retirement HERE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WomenSeekingBlissfulRetirement

Love to hear from you! Get in touch with Maria for questions or topic suggestions: [email protected]

or use the contact page.

ACTION STEP

It's my gift to you because every woman deserves a retirement that excites her!

Do you want to master your time by allocating time for structured appointments, weekly activities, and also leave time for spontaneous adventures?

I have created the Vibrant Retirement Planner to help you stay more focused and embrace new opportunities. This is a digital monthly planner designed to make your retirement more intentional and fulfilling:

• Daily activity planning to keep your days engaging and meaningful

• Habit tracking to help you build and maintain routines that support your wellbeing

• Affirmations to keep you motivated and focused on a positive mindset

• Reflection questions to guide your personal growth and ensure you're living rour retirement with intention.

Get the planner and try it out! Let me know what you think about it and how it helps you.