14. Relationships in Retirement with Wendy Hutterer
Release Date: 10/23/2024
32. All Downhill From Here? Hard Pass ~ with Diane Amelia Read and Teresa Lisum
Design Your Joyful Retirement
What does wellness actually mean in midlife ~ and why do so many of us wait for permission to prioritize it? In this episode, I talked with Diane Amelia Read and Teresa Lisum for an honest, energizing conversation about movement, identity, and what it really looks like to age well. We talk about busting the stories we've been handed about getting older, why five intentional minutes beats zero perfect ones, and how showing up imperfectly is still showing up. In this episode: Why movement is the non-negotiable ~ and how to make it sustainable The myth of the "right time" to start...
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31. What's The Story You've Been Holding? with Dr. Xanthe Golenko
Design Your Joyful Retirement
By the time you hit 50, you've lived enough life to fill a few books. But most of us don't think our stories are worth telling. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Xanthe Golenko about why that couldn't be further from the truth. Xanthe was a dancer in France, then a researcher studying older adults. When she introduced life story books into care homes, something magical happened ~ families reconnected, staff saw the whole person, and the storytellers themselves transformed. That's when she realized: storytelling isn't just about preserving the past. It's about...
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30. Your Future Self Called. She's Fine. (Better Than Fine, Actually.)
Design Your Joyful Retirement
In this episode, I'm talking with Pauline Zielonka, founder of Retirement Life Plan, about what people actually experience when they step away from full-time work. Pauline has spent years researching the non-financial side of retirement, and what she's found is both surprising and deeply reassuring. We talk about why the fear of boredom is so much more common than actual boredom, how retirement can expand (not erase) your sense of self, and why generic retirement advice often misses the mark. Pauline also shares insights from her research on what helps people adjust ~ and what makes...
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29. From Ad Agency to Ashram to Memoir Ghostwriter ~ A Conversation with Gail Harris
Design Your Joyful Retirement
What if the hard-won, transformative parts of your life are exactly what someone else needs to hear? In this episode, I talk with Gail Harris ~ memoir ghostwriter who helps women turn their lived experience into stories that heal. We cover the difference between memoir and autobiography, how to find your narrative arc (even when life feels all over the place), and why being deeply listened to is so transformative. If you've ever thought "I should write a book someday," this episode might be the nudge. Your story ~ the one you've lived, survived, and learned from ~ is probably more...
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28. One Breath at a Time: Support for All of Us with Lydia Mandell
Design Your Joyful Retirement
This week, Laurie welcomes breathwork coach Lydia Mandell to the podcast for a truly nourishing conversation about the healing power of breath. Breathwork can be a lifeline ~ bringing us back into our bodies, soothing our nervous systems, and helping us gently release what weighs us down. In this episode, we explore: What breathwork really is (and why it goes far beyond relaxation) How conscious breathing can help release stored tension, grief, and old emotional patterns The importance of feeling safe and supported ~ whether in 1:1 sessions or in community ~ especially for...
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27. Big Emotions? (Here's a Gentle Solution) with Jeanne Demers
Design Your Joyful Retirement
Feeling overwhelmed, stuck in old patterns, or just plain stressed? In this episode, we’re exploring tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques, or EFT) ~ a simple, science-backed practice to help you gently shift stress, self-doubt, and the pressure to “do it all.” My guest, Jeanne Demers, shares her journey from the theater stage to teaching and healing. Together, we uncover the hidden ways family patterns can show up: money worries, creativity blocks, people-pleasing, and that sneaky sense of never being “enough.” Jeanne guides us through a hands-on tapping round, so you can...
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26. Next Steps? Let the Stars (and AI) Light the Way with Rachel Loewenherz
Design Your Joyful Retirement
Wondering if astrology can be more than just your daily horoscope? This week, hear from Rachel Loewenherz, founder of Star Path ~ an innovative AI tool bringing real, personalized astrology into your everyday life. Rachel opens up about her own story ~ not a polished highlight reel ~ but a real journey shaped by loss, healing, and transformation. She shares how astrology went from lifeline to inspiration, guiding her through profound personal challenges and ultimately inspiring Star Path. In this episode: How Star Path puts your unique birth chart to practical use...
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25. What Really Matters Now? A Heart-to-Heart on Core Values for Gen X Women
Design Your Joyful Retirement
If you’ve ever found yourself running on autopilot, juggling everyone’s needs but your own, this heart-to-heart is for you. We're getting real about the Gen X reality of always “doing it all,” losing yourself in the process, and the brave questions that can help you reconnect with what actually matters now. Tune in for honest stories, practical shifts, and a gentle invitation to step out of the world’s expectations…and into a life shaped by your own core values. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why so many Gen X women feel like they’ve lost themselves (and why...
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24. Your Values, Your Wealth: Women's Voices Matter
Design Your Joyful Retirement
Money isn’t just about math; it’s about meaning. In this episode, I talked with financial advisor Katie Randall for a down-to-earth, practical, and deeply human talk about how women can relate to money with more confidence, honesty, and empowerment. We Discuss: Why talking about money can feel emotional, and why that’s perfectly normal How Katie helps her clients through big life transitions, from career changes to caregiving The importance of connection, empathy, and advice you can actually use (not just jargon) Why your personal story deserves to be at the...
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23. From "What Now?" to "What's Next?": A Purpose Journey
Design Your Joyful Retirement
In this episode of Design Your Joyful Retirement, we walk through a practical, heart-centered approach to discovering (or rediscovering) your purpose in midlife. No five-year master plan required. No pressure to have it all figured out. Just curiosity, courage, and small steps that bring joy and meaning to your days. We cover: Why midlife is the perfect season for a purpose reset How to reflect on your past experiences and uncover your hidden strengths Letting go of outdated roles, beliefs, and “shoulds” that no longer serve you Tuning into your core values, passions, and...
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