What if the very mask you wear to “fit in” is the thing keeping you invisible?

In this episode, we talked about what every woman needs to hear: a conversation about stepping out from behind the masks, breaking the cycle of people-pleasing, and reclaiming the power that was yours all along.

Today’s guest, Dr. Meg Gibson, doesn’t just talk about personal transformation; she embodies it. After decades of being the go-to woman behind the scenes, she discovered a truth many of us avoid: being indispensable isn’t the same as being seen. Her journey through self-awareness, boundaries, inner wisdom, and radical authenticity has shaped her into the powerhouse she is today — a transformational speaker, leadership and organizational development consultant, and a guiding force for women rising into visibility and influence.

In this episode, Dr. Meg shares how sitting in pain instead of fixing it opened the door to profound self-discovery, how boundaries became her liberation, and why women must stop waiting for permission to use their voice. She unpacks the generational conditioning that teaches women to shrink — and gives practical steps, including her signature self-awareness process, to help you reclaim who you truly are.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated… this conversation will awaken something powerful in you.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Dr. Meg Gibson is a Leadership and Organization Development Consultant, Personal Branding Strategist, and Transformational Speaker with over 30 years of experience guiding professionals to step into visibility and power. As Founder and CEO of True Choices Consulting, LLC, she helps mid- to senior-level leaders align their voice, values, and vision to create bold, authentic brands that inspire influence and impact.

She holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Conflict Analysis, Negotiation, and Mediation, along with certifications in EQ-i 2.0, DISC®, and Workplace Big 5®. These tools ground her work in emotional intelligence, communication mastery, and self-awareness; skills essential for modern leadership.

Her mission is deeply personal. After years as the reliable expert behind the scenes, she realized being indispensable wasn’t the same as being irresistible. That awakening pushed her to unbox her own voice and brand and now she empowers others to do the same.

Whether delivering keynotes, facilitating workshops, or coaching leaders one-on-one, Dr. Meg weaves strategy, storytelling, and soul. She inspires professionals to be seen, heard and remembered, on their own terms.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

https://www.maketruechoices.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretgibson1/

https://www.facebook.com/truechoicesbrandingandconsulting/ 

https://www.instagram.com/maketruechoices/ 

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Introduction

(02:17) Dr. Meg’s backstory: choosing to “sit in the pain” instead of quick-fixing

(05:57) Discovering her purpose: people naturally opening up and seeking her guidance

(09:00) The power of sitting with discomfort and the lessons it reveals

(12:00) Boundaries, people-pleasing, and learning to say “no” as a complete sentence

(18:18) Why women wear masks & the systemic conditioning to stay silent

(24:46) The first step to change: Dr. Meg’s self-awareness & personal SWOT process

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

What if the very moment you finally step into your “bigger” self, the promotion, the visibility, the dream client, the next level, then your mind suddenly whispers… “Go back.”

What if the success you prayed for feels so overwhelming, so unfamiliar, that you find yourself shrinking right when life is asking you to rise?

If you've ever felt that tug-of-war between expansion and retreat, this episode is going to change everything.

Today, we had a powerful conversation with Lori McDowell—retreat strategist, bestselling author, international speaker, and the brilliant founder behind Reimagine U Strategies. Lori has spent decades turning ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences, helping leaders step into their fullest expression through transformational retreats around the world.

From navigating fear of success, to sustaining momentum once you reach your next level, to creating communities where women lift—rather than limit—each other… Lori shares wisdom that lands deeply, challenges your limits, and invites you into a life where you rise and bring others with you.

Get ready for mindset shifts, soul-level truths, and a new understanding of what it means to hold your greatness without shrinking.

This episode might just be the permission slip you've been waiting for. Tune in now.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Dr. Lori McDowell, Retreat Strategist, is an international speaker, best-selling author, and founder of Reimagine U Strategies. She is the creator of Done-For-You Transformational Retreats, helping business leaders scale impact, income and fun, by turning their vision into powerful, soul-aligned gatherings. Her mission is to turn the ordinary into extraordinary, building extraordinary lives and changing the world one gathering at a time.

Lori handles everything from venue sourcing and agenda design to logistics and on-site support, so her clients can focus fully on transformation and connection —without the stress or overwhelm of planning. With decades of experience in engineering, leadership, and event design, she brings a unique mix of strategy, creativity, and heart to each retreat she designs. A passionate believer in the ripple effect, Lori knows that when women and business leaders create intentional spaces, they don’t just serve their clients—they spark movements that can change the world.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

https://reimagineu.net/

https://www.instagram.com/lori.mcdowell.5/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorimcdowell/ 

https://www.facebook.com/lori.mcdowell.5/ 

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

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Introduction

(03:22) The Power of Retreats

(08:20) Overcoming the Fear of Success

(16:20) The Crab Pot Theory and Abundance Mindset

(20:40) Managing the Retreat Hangover

(26:04) What's Next for Dr. Lori McDowell

(34:22) Conclusion and Gratitude

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

What if everything you desire — wealth, freedom, love, peace — is already within you, just waiting to be embodied?

In this transformative episode of Women Thrive, Wealth Alchemist and Embodiment Mentor Leisa Tindal takes us on a powerful journey of radical responsibility, inner awakening, and self-mastery. From surviving addiction, abuse, and abandonment to becoming a global leader in feminine empowerment, Leisa reveals how true prosperity begins in the body — not the bank account.

Through her signature blend of frequency work, identity recalibration, and nervous-system healing, she guides women to step into their highest identity — where power, prosperity, and peace flow effortlessly. This conversation is a masterclass in reclaiming your inner authority, embodying your worth, and creating the life you were always meant to live.

If you’re ready to move beyond mindset and into full-spectrum transformation, this episode will activate the remembrance of who you truly are — and what’s possible when you lead from wholeness.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Leisa Tindal is a Wealth Alchemist and Embodiment Mentor devoted to guiding women into their highest identity — where power, prosperity, and peace become their natural state of being. Her multidimensional work weaves together identity recalibration, frequency work, and deep nervous-system intelligence to activate transformation at the cellular level. She is the founder of The School of Mastery, a global movement devoted to full-spectrum self-mastery — emotional, energetic, spiritual, and physical — through the embodiment of identity, power, and prosperity. She is also the creator of The Million Dollar Pathway, an inner journey of frequency and embodiment that bridges identity and wealth, and the visionary behind the Retreat Event Facilitation Academy, where she trains women to lead transformational spaces with embodied confidence and energetic precision.

Through her work, Leisa awakens women to the wisdom of their body — guiding them into deep remembrance of who they are, the truth they carry, and the power that has always lived within. Her mission is to help women come home to themselves — breaking free from cycles of abandonment, pain, and self-betrayal so they can reclaim their power, embody prosperity, and lead from wholeness.

A #1 bestselling author, podcast host, and international retreat facilitator, Leisa has supported hundreds of women to release trauma, awaken their inner authority, and rise into their highest expression. Her work moves beyond mindset and method into cellular-level recalibration — activating the body’s innate intelligence, restoring nervous-system safety, and unlocking the frequency of embodied wealth.

Having walked her own journey through abandonment, addiction, sexual, physical, and mental abuse, self-harm, and the deep unraveling that comes before true awakening, Leisa carries a raw truth and embodied wisdom that cannot be taught. She has built multiple six-figure businesses, generated over one million in online sales, and created an ecosystem of offerings that merge prosperity, spirituality, and feminine leadership.

A global nomad devoted to the embodiment of freedom, Leisa travels the world leading retreats and activations that empower women to embody wealth in every sense — to lead, create, and prosper from peace.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

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

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

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GRSEcTHnMFWNnUIaJS8Zi 

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Introduction

(04:33) Leisa's Journey: From Trauma to Transformation

(14:52) The Power of Radical Responsibility

(19:13) Understanding the Impact of Abandonment

(24:01) Breaking Free from Past Beliefs

(25:09) Creating a New Belief System

(27:29) Empowerment and Abundance

(33:25) Connecting with Leisa Tindal

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

What if the version of you that the world sees isn’t the real you? What if the woman you’ve become is shaped more by expectations than by truth? In this episode of Women Thrive, we discussed deep into the power of authenticity and breaking free from the boxes society puts us in with Mickell Dent — a therapist, transformational mindset expert, and the powerhouse behind GLOW 414 Inc. and the Boss Fly Girl Movement.

Known to many as Therapist Mickell D, she’s on a mission to help women unmask, heal, and reclaim the parts of themselves they’ve been told to hide. Through her groundbreaking ABC Theory (Addiction, Behavior, Consequences) and her work with EMDR therapy, Mickell transforms pain into purpose and survival into strategy.

In this conversation, she shares her own journey of shedding expectations, embracing vulnerability, and rewriting her story — and she invites you to do the same. This episode is your reminder that authenticity isn’t rebellion — it’s freedom.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Mickell Dent is a Therapist and Transformational Mindset Expert dedicated to helping women unmask, heal, and step into their most powerful selves. As the founder and CEO of GLOW 414 Inc. and the creator of the Boss Fly Girl movement, Mickell has built a reputation for turning pain into purpose and survival into strategy. Her work bridges clinical insight with real-world transformation, empowering women to break generational cycles and build lives rooted in confidence, clarity, and authenticity.

Known to many as “Therapist Mickell D,” she combines her background as a licensed mental health professional, life coach, and international speaker to deliver messages that inspire change and drive results. Her signature ABC Theory (Addiction, Behavior, Consequences) helps women identify the subconscious patterns that block growth and teaches how to create the internal alignment that leads to lasting success.

Through her coaching programs, workshops, and global speaking engagements, Mickell is redefining what it means to heal and lead. Her mission is simple: to help women be the real version of themselves so they can live the life they truly desire.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

Website: https://therapistmickelld.com/

TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/cJlFiHvlnMs?si=Jar-QZLfyGnW95a3

IG: https://www.instagram.com/therapist_mickelld

FB: https://www.facebook.com/mickell.dent

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Introduction

(05:33) The Turning Point: Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity

(08:08) Empowering Women: Transforming Pain into Purpose

(12:17) Practical Tips for Embracing Vulnerability

(15:55) The Power of Mindset: Redefining Your Life

(21:05) Understanding Transformation and Identity

(27:02) Exploring EMDR Therapy

(31:23) Empowering Women Through Self-Discovery

(35:16) Connecting and Continuing the Journey

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

What if the best chapter of your life starts at the very moment you feel the most lost?

Midlife isn't a crisis—it's an invitation. In this empowering episode of Women Thrive, we talked about the raw, real, and transformational journey of Marielle Speetjens, a midlife reinvention and confidence coach who’s redefining what it means to be a woman in her prime.

From career pivots to personal loss, menopause to empty nesting, Marielle shares how she turned every disruption into an opportunity for deep alignment—and now helps other women do the same through her signature 5C method: Courage, Confidence, Clarity, Commitment, and Celebration.

Whether you're feeling stuck, invisible, or simply unsure of what’s next, this episode is your reminder that midlife is not the end—it’s your bold new beginning. Get ready to say “yes” to your next chapter and finally celebrate the woman you're becoming.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Marielle Speetjens is a Midlife Reinvention & Confidence Coach and the founder of Mindbreeze by M — Say YES to Life Again. She helps women in midlife rebuild confidence, realign with what matters, and design a next chapter they’re excited to say YES to. Through her 5C Method—Courage, Confidence, Clarity, Commitment, Celebration—she pairs straight-talk coaching with practical habits and micro-promises that last. With clients, she surfaces patterns, rewires limiting stories, builds daily confidence rituals, aligns the path ahead, and tracks (and celebrates) what matters.

In earlier chapters, Marielle worked in human rights and international education, and founded her own coaching company. After the passing of her daughter, she devoted herself to family and homeschooled her children while living off-grid on a sailboat. After moving to Portugal—and while navigating menopause and her own reinvention—she completed two half-Ironman races and managed an international swim team for several years.

Today, as her nest slowly empties, she coaches privately and speaks on midlife reinvention, authenticity, embodiment and alignment.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

https://www.facebook.com/marielle.speetjens 

https://www.instagram.com/mariellespeetjens/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marielle-speetjens-0065051/ 

https://mindbreeze.ae 

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Welcome to a New Chapter

(02:20) Meet Marielle Speetjens: Confidence Coach for Midlife Women

(04:29) From Loss to Purpose: Marielle's Reinvention Story

(07:28) Midlife Transitions, Menopause & Identity Shifts

(15:11) Finding Power Through Acceptance, Self-Care & Movement

(23:47) The Energy Shift That Comes from Saying YES

(30:10) Legacy, Celebration & Final Reflections

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

What if your body image wasn’t just about how you look — but how you live, speak up, and show up in the world?

In this powerful episode of Women Thrive, Susan Walker — psychotherapist, clinical director, and body image expert — shares how her battle with endometriosis and PTSD led her to champion a new definition of body confidence. Together, we unpack the concept of body esteem, exposing the toxic cycle of chronic dieting and how it silently crushes confidence, visibility, and self-worth.

From reclaiming your signature style to shifting the language we use about our bodies, Susan reveals transformative insights every woman needs to hear. She also introduces her book, “Body Esteem: Piece of Cake, and Peace of Mind”, a guide to creating peace with your body at any stage of life.

This is more than a conversation about appearance — it’s a wake-up call to start living unapologetically in the body you have, right now.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Susan Walker, M.S., L.P.C. is a psychotherapist and the Clinical Director for Walker Wellness Clinic at Cooper Aerobics Center. She and her husband, Philip Walker, M.S., C.E.O. have a clinic in Dallas that specializes in body image, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and stress.

Susan’s passion is to share her clinical expertise on how to foster Body Esteem which is the level and degree of positiveness which you attribute to your body.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

Website: https://bodyesteem.com/

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

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

Buy the Book: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Esteem-Piece-Cake-Peace/dp/1734052902 

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(04:02) Susan Walker's Personal Journey

(05:35) Understanding Body Esteem and Image

(09:40) Challenges and Changes in Women's Bodies

(15:56) The Impact of Dieting and Body Image

(22:56) The Impact of Emotions on Body Image

(23:37) Creating Your Signature Style

(31:05) Changing the Narrative Around Body Image

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

What if the world never handed you power—so you learned how to build your own?

In this electrifying episode of the Women Thrive, Dr. Cheryl Cooper shares her powerful journey from growing up in silence and invisibility to becoming a commanding voice in tech, leadership, and global advocacy. A US Navy veteran, TEDx speaker, and trailblazing educator in cybersecurity, Dr. Cooper opens up about breaking through systemic barriers, overcoming self-doubt, and the raw realities of being a Black woman in male-dominated industries. 

She reveals how preparation, presence, and voice are the true game-changers—and how every woman can rise by building trust, influence, and unapologetic confidence. This is not just a conversation—it’s a call to step into your own power and shape the future of STEM and beyond.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Dr. Cheryl Cooper is a United States Navy Veteran, Doctor of Computer Science, and transformational thought leader whose work empowers women in technology and STEMM careers to claim their agency, amplify their voices, and lead change without waiting for permission from external systems.

With more than two decades of experience in cybersecurity, technology, and leadership roles across Fortune 100 companies, academic, and community initiatives, Dr. Cooper holds globally recognized credentials. She is the founder of the BECOMING SEEN movement, a pending trademark and the title of her 60‑day guided journal available on Amazon. Through her proprietary frameworks and bold strategies, she has helped women move from invisibility to influence in industries where their presence has too often been overlooked.

An accomplished author, her works include Breaking the Code: Winning Strategies for Women in Cybersecurity & Tech (2025), Hood to Hooded: A Black Woman’s Choice to Rise, and Triumph in the Trenches: Navigating Success for Black Professionals. Through her writing, speaking, and her podcast Ctrl+Alt+Em‑Power, she shares her personal journey of resilience and choice, inspiring audiences to dismantle barriers and design their own paths to leadership.

As President of Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS) Kansas City, Dr. Cooper has championed hundreds of underserved students, creating pathways into STEMM through mentorship, visibility, and real‑world exposure. In 2024, she was honored with the STEMMy Award for Groundbreaking Leadership, which recognizes a woman in STEMM who has made significant contributions to the STEMM community throughout her over 10‑year professional career.

She is also the recipient of the ABWA Martin Luther King, Jr. award for "Keeping the Dream Alive" in education and community service. Dr. Cooper's mission is clear: "We must see the girl in a world in which she is usually unseen."

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

https://www.drcherylcooper.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcherylcooper 

https://www.facebook.com/Just4Udataprotection

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Introduction

(03:40) Dr. Cheryl's Journey: From Silence to Empowerment

(08:05) Navigating Challenges in Corporate America

(09:57) The Importance of Finding and Using Your Voice

(18:08) Addressing Imposter Syndrome and Colorism

(24:21) Dr. Cheryl's Future Plans and Final Thoughts

(28:26) Closing Remarks

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

What if resilience wasn’t about pushing through—but about staying steady, clear, and creative under pressure? In this episode of Women Thrive, Luisa Hogan shatters the traditional narrative of resilience. As a leadership strategist who has steered organizations through crisis—including the complete closure of one—Luisa shares what it really means to lead with calm, connection, and clarity. 

She opens up about her unexpected rise to leadership, how she kept team morale high in the face of massive change, and the power of the 90-second pause to manage emotional triggers. With powerful insights on building trust, embracing transparency, and using creativity as a leadership tool, Luisa offers a refreshing take on what strong, human-centered leadership looks like today. If you're navigating change or leading a team through uncertainty, this conversation is your playbook.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Luisa Hogan is a Leadership Resilience Strategist, Founder of Vermelho Consulting, and Co-Founder of Whisper & Thread. She helps leaders redefine strength as steadiness, not strain.

After years of guiding teams through complex change and transformation, Luisa noticed a pattern: too many capable leaders were burning out under the pressure to appear unshakeable. Her work challenges that old narrative. Drawing on psychology, neuroscience, and lived leadership experience, she teaches a more sustainable model: resilience as regulation, not endurance.

Luisa’s approach helps leaders and entrepreneurs shift from reacting and over-performing to pausing, anchoring, and choosing deliberate action. Through her programs and keynotes, she has helped build teams that stay composed, connected, and effective in uncertainty.

Known for her calm authority, intelligent storytelling, and grounded delivery, Luisa’s work moves beyond motivation. It builds capability. A marathon competitor and author of The Mindset Fitness Workout: Be Fit for Success Without Burning Out, she applies the principles of mental fitness to both sport and leadership.

Her sessions equip audiences with actionable frameworks to stay calm through change, lead with confidence, and build strength that lasts, even when everything around them is in flux.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

https://www.vermelho.com.au/ 

https://www.whisperandthread.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/vermelho 

https://www.instagram.com/whisperandthread

https://www.tiktok.com/@whisperandthread 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisa-hogan-04617322/ 

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Introduction

(03:07) How Luisa Hogan Stepped into Leadership

(09:10) Why Transparency Builds Trust in Teams

(13:19) Resilience, Redefined: Steadiness Over Struggle

(17:05) Leading Through Change and Navigating Resistance

(22:10) Staying Calm and Creative in High-Stress Moments

(31:45) Luisa’s Excitement for the 2026 Women Thrive Summit

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

Have you ever felt unseen, unheard — like your voice no longer matters?

In this thought-provoking episode of the Women Thrive, we meet Dana Marie Ashford, a powerhouse educator and social-emotional learning expert with over 25 years of experience. Dana shares her deeply personal journey of reclaiming her voice and helping others do the same — guiding women from a place of emotional suppression to bold self-expression.

Through the lens of emotional intelligence, resilience, and healing, Dana introduces us to the concept of the “diminished self” — how small, constant dismissals can shrink your sense of identity — and how to reclaim it, piece by piece. She explains how social emotional learning (SEL) isn't just for kids — it’s a toolkit for grown women too, especially those ready to rise.

If you've ever questioned your worth, quieted your voice, or lost parts of yourself along the way… this episode is your invitation to come home to your truth.

✨ Listen now and start rewriting the narrative of who you are — with power, purpose, and presence.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Dana Ashford M.Ed Social Emotional Learning Specialist  and The You Project

With over 25 years of experience in education, Dana Ashford M.Ed  is a dedicated specialist in Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and trauma-informed practices. As a member of the world's first graduating class to earn a Master’s degree as a Social Emotional Learning Specialist, Dana has pioneered approaches that center around emotional intelligence, resilience, and authentic connection in educational spaces.

Throughout her career, Dana  has supported hundreds of students of all ages in building self-efficacy, developing self-awareness, and mastering emotional regulation skills. A strong advocate for neurodivergent learners, Dana helps students rediscover who they are and forge meaningful connections with themselves and others, empowering them to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

Driven by a personal journey of healing after experiencing abuse, Dana is passionate about helping individuals reclaim their voice and reinvent their diminished selves. This mission led to the creation of The You Project, a transformative initiative designed to guide people toward becoming the best version of themselves. Through workshops, speaking engagements, and direct mentorship, Dana inspires others to step into their truth, build emotional resilience, and live with purpose.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

https://www.facebook.com/dana.stephensonashford

https://theyouproject.info

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

Women Thrive Summit: https://womenthrivesummit.com/

Become a Guest on the Women Thrive Podcast: https://womenthrivemedia.com/podcasts

Women Thrive Book: https://womenthrivesummit.com/book/

Women Thrive Magazine: https://womenthrivemagazine.com/magazine/

➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Introduction

(03:13) Dana’s Journey and Passion for Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

(07:28) Breaking Down What SEL Really Means

(16:39) Understanding the “Diminished Self” and How It Shows Up

(22:59) Steps to Reclaim and Rebuild Your Empowered Self

(34:01) Final Thoughts and Words of Encouragement

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/women-thrive/exclusive-content

What happens when your child leaves for college and takes more than just their belongings — they take your sense of purpose, your identity, and your heart?

In this powerful episode of the Women Thrive, midlife author and coach Allie Hill opens up about the raw emotional reality of empty nesting — and how it sparked a profound transformation in her life. After years as a full-time mom, Ali found herself asking, “Who am I now?” — and from that question, she built a new life helping other women rediscover theirs.

Allie shares the highs and lows of midlife, from shifting relationships to unexpected freedom, and introduces her simple four-step process for finding clarity and purpose. This conversation is filled with relatable stories, surprising wisdom, and tangible advice for any woman navigating change.

✨ If you're standing at the edge of “what’s next,” this is the episode you didn’t know you needed.

Tune in now and take that first bold step toward thriving in midlife.

✨ About the Guest ✨

Allie Hill is a Midlife Author, Speaker & Coach and the founder of Allie Hill Coaching, where she helps women in midlife move from feeling stuck or uncertain to living with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Known for her relatable storytelling and practical strategies, Allie inspires audiences to embrace change, challenge limiting beliefs, and create a future they’re excited to wake up to.

After experiencing her own turning point in midlife, Allie discovered that reinvention isn’t about becoming someone else — it’s about uncovering who you’ve been all along. She draws from her personal journey, her work with clients, and the lessons in her book, The Girlfriend’s Guide to Empty Nesting, to show women that it’s never too late to begin again.

Whether she’s speaking on stage, coaching one-on-one, or sharing through her writing, Allie combines warmth, humor, and actionable tools that leave women feeling seen, hopeful, and ready to take their next step. She has been featured on television, podcasts, and stages nationwide, and is committed to helping women reimagine midlife as their most vibrant chapter yet.

📢 Important Links 📢

Connect with our Guest:

Website: https://alliehillcoaching.com/ 

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

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/alliehill 

Substack: https://notesfromallie.substack.com/ 

Connect with Women Thrive Media:

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➡️ Show Highlights

(00:00) Introduction

(04:17) Ali Hill's Journey to Coaching

(06:36) The Emotional Rollercoaster of Empty Nesting

(10:12) Empowering Women in Midlife

(17:44) The Importance of Role Models

(27:43) Shifting Relationships in Midlife

(34:22) Conclusion

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