Now What

Welcome to Now What, the podcast that dives into the heart of midlife and all its twists and turns. Whether you're feeling lost, bored, or wondering what your next move should be, you're not alone. Join Melis as she explores the ups, downs, and everything in between, offering insights and real talk to help you find your way through this new chapter. Together, we’ll navigate the midlife maze and discover what's next. Let’s go!

(#51) Why You Can Love Everyone… Except Yourself & How to Fix That - with Author Karen Blaine 12/04/2025

(#50) Writing Your Way Through Grief: The Nautilus Way with Marie Crews 11/24/2025

(#49) The Midlife Flame Part 2: Desire, Pleasure & The Rekindle Program (Part 2 with Aimee Ames) 11/13/2025

(#48) The Midlife Flame: How to Rekindle Love, Connection & Yourself (Part 1 with Aimee Ames) 11/06/2025

(#47) The Midlife Power Shift: Mastering Your Energy, Mindset & Momentum - with Johanna Danaher 10/24/2025

🥂(#46) HAPPY 1st Bday, “Now What?!” — A Birthday Bash with OG guest + college bestie, Kelly Huber 10/16/2025

(#45) The Great Midlife Rebrand: Redefining Who You Are (& WHY I'm Stepping on a Bikini Stage at 50) - Solo with Melis 10/10/2025

(#45) The Great Midlife Rebrand: Redefining Who You Are (& WHY I'm Stepping on a Bikini Stage at 50) - Solo with Melis 💋 Hoops & Glossers… it’s REBRAND TIME! Melis is doing it too — sparkly bikini, big dreams, and zero apologies — and this is your sign to join her. This isn’t about starting over; it’s about unleashing the next you — the louder, freer, more confident version that’s been waiting to take the mic. 🎙 Episode Vibe: If you’ve been feeling stuck, stale, or like your spark dimmed somewhere between carpools and career changes — this one’s your pep talk. Melis gets real about her own “midlife rebrand” (yes, including the spray tan and clear heels 😅) and walks you through how to relaunch you — body, mindset, and energy — with humor, grit, and gloss. 💥 What You’ll Hear: How to stop saying “I’m too old for that” (you’re not) Why fear is a compass, not a stop sign The truth about consistency, boundaries, and messy progress The secret sauce of every glow-up: community And the exact steps to kick off your midlife rebrand — Melis-style 🔥 The Midlife Rebrand Playbook 1️⃣ Audit Your Old Brand: Which labels, roles, or excuses don’t fit anymore? (Retire them with love 💅) 2️⃣ Pick Your Color Palette: Life is not meant to be beige. Let’s bring back bold. 3️⃣ Announce the Launch: Start living and speaking like your next-level self. 4️⃣ Find Your Hype Squad: Surround yourself with women who clap when you win (or DM Melis and she’ll coach you there 💪). 🎁 The Challenge + Giveaway Send this episode to 5 girlfriends who need a reminder that midlife is their magic era. Tag @motivatewithmelis on IG and you’ll be entered to win a $25 Starbucks gift card ☕ (because coffee = confidence). 💫 Ready to Rebrand IRL? Melis can help you do it — through food, movement, mindset, and a plan that actually fits your real life. The Reset Session → Lifestyle support for hormone shifts & energy resets DM “RESET” on Instagram: Or email Visit 💭 “You’re not the same woman you were at 30 — and that’s your superpower. Midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s your rebrand.” Listen on: | Follow: Email: /episode/index/show/a84a9244-1b16-4d63-a8d1-c8ba2b664bd9/id/38541810

(#44) The Perimenopause Reversal™ - with Sarah Lynn Wayne 10/03/2025

(#43) Birthdays as a Reset Button: Finding Joy in Midlife — with Tamar Hurwitz Fleming 09/18/2025

(#42) Midlife Marriage: Bloopers, Big Love, and Keeping It Real - with Papi 09/11/2025

(#42) Midlife Marriage: Bloopers, Big Love, and Keeping It Real - with Papi Hoops & Glossers, It’s our anniversary pod! 🎉 Papi’s back—and yes, his microphone decided to go on sabbatical. Consider this your official disclaimer: I did not turn him down on purpose (tempting, but no). You can still hear him—and he is witty, even when he’s whispery. In this episode, we talk about: The truth about “24 long years” (said with love… and eye rolls). Why marriage is more blooper reel than montage—and why that’s normal. Raising kids → living parallel lives → finding our way back (hi therapy, we love you). Grief & real life: losing our sweet Roxy and helping Toby (our golden) through it. Big goals in midlife: Melis’ first bodybuilding competition (Mexico, Dec 6) and what that’s really been like for both of us. Recreating “us” in the empty-nest era: new roles, new rhythms, and saying yes to walks (Papi… put the phone down 😜). Real Talk Takeaways Marriage is work—not punishment. It’s reps. Some days feel heavy; some feel hilarious. Therapy helps. Shoutout to Rupa for keeping it neutral and helping us actually listen. Midlife reinvention is for both partners. Women and men lose and rebuild roles; make space for each other’s “what now?” Community Qs (tell us in reviews/IG!) Puppy poll: Should Toby get a sister or a brother golden? Mic magic: Best budget-friendly couple-podcast mic recs? (Because… yeah.) Empty-nest rituals: What weekly “we” ritual brought you back together? Melis’ Reset Offer Feeling blah at 2pm? Want simple food + movement tweaks that actually fit real life? DM me “RESET”—I’m taking new clients and would love to help you feel your best. Quick Disclaimer Papi’s mic dips in and out (happy anniversary to us 🎧). Stick with it—his quiet one-liners still land. Share the Love If this episode made you feel seen (or made you snort-laugh), share it with your person or your bestie who’s in the thick of it. Rate & review so more midlife humans find our unfiltered corner of the internet. xoxo melis /episode/index/show/a84a9244-1b16-4d63-a8d1-c8ba2b664bd9/id/38176105

(#41) - “Perimenopause, Parasites & Plot Twists (Oh My!)" - with Dyna Vink, Founder of Holistic Nutrition Lifestyle 08/28/2025

(#41) - “Perimenopause, Parasites & Plot Twists (Oh My!)" - with Dyna Vink, Founder of Holistic Nutrition Lifestyle Hoops & Glossers! Buckle up—today we’re going where few podcasts dare to go: the messy, confusing, sometimes downright bizarre world of perimenopause. Hot flashes? Weight gain? Brain fog? Gas that could clear a room? (Yeah, we said it.) If you’ve ever felt like your body came with a secret manual that no one bothered to give you, this episode is your missing chapter. My guest, Dyna Vink, a certified Integrative Health Practitioner and founder of Holistic Nutrition Lifestyle, is here to spill the tea on all things midlife. She’s walked the perimenopause path herself, turned her frustration into research, and now helps women uncover the real root causes behind their symptoms. And here’s the jaw-dropper: 👉 One hidden culprit might just be… PARASITES! Yep. Not sexy. Not talked about. But way more common than you think. From bloating and brain fog to sleep struggles and skin issues, parasites could be part of the puzzle—and Dyna explains how to spot them, test for them, and (most importantly) kick them to the curb. In this episode, we cover: Why perimenopause is still wildly misunderstood (and ignored in med school 🤯) The surprising first signs of perimenopause (spoiler: it’s not just hot flashes) How the gut, hormones, and parasites are all linked Why traditional medicine often misses the root cause—and what functional medicine can offer instead And yes, the truth about colonics, biofilms, and parasite cleanses 👀 If you’re in perimenopause (or think you might be), this convo will give you clarity, relief, and maybe a whole new perspective on what’s really going on inside your body. Because midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a plot twist. And with the right tools, you don’t just survive it… you thrive. xoxo melis 👉 Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify (because you're THE BEST!) 👉 Tag me @motivatewithmelis and share with a friend 🎧 Listen Now On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts https://motivatewithmelis.com ✨ Resources & Links: Connect with Dyna Vink: [Insert her discovery call link or website] Website: ; LinkedIn: ; Facebook: YouTube: Para Support Parasite herbal rebalancing protocol: /episode/index/show/a84a9244-1b16-4d63-a8d1-c8ba2b664bd9/id/38005315

(#40) - From Ironman to Garden Queen: Kim Eagle on Fitness, Food & Finding Joy in Midlife 08/14/2025

(#40) - From Ironman to Garden Queen: Kim Eagle on Fitness, Food & Finding Joy in Midlife Hey Hoops & Glossers — today’s guest is proof that you can be strong, healthy, and still grow your own garlic braid worthy of a Pinterest board. Meet Kim Eagle — fitness coach, nutrition expert, Ironman times two (yes, TWO), and the green thumb behind Grow a Healthy Garden. She’s the founder of Earn That Body, where she’s been helping clients ditch the diet drama since 2009 with a “real food, no gimmicks” approach. And now, she’s teaching people everywhere to plant, grow, and eat organic goodness right from their own backyards (or balconies). In this episode, we dig into: 🚴‍♀️ How training for an Ironman changed her everything (and why she’d do it again in a heartbeat) 🍠 Why perimenopause had her swapping marathons for muscle and sweet potato harvests 🏋️‍♀️ The myth-busting truth about weight training, carbs, and why eating more can actually help you lose weight 🥗 Why Ozempic isn’t the magic fix most people think it is — and the ripple effects we’re not talking about enough 🌿 How growing your own food can boost your health, your mood, and maybe your social life (neighbors love free tomatoes) Kim’s energy is contagious, her advice is practical, and her passion for helping people feel their best is next level. You’ll leave this episode ready to rework your workouts… and maybe plant a basil plant while you’re at it. Links from the episode: Kim’s fitness + nutrition programs: www.EarnThatBody.com Start your own organic garden: www.GrowAHealthyGarden.com Because whether you’re building muscle or growing garlic, midlife is all about planting seeds you actually want to see grow. 🌸 xoxo melis 👉 Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify (because you're THE BEST!) 👉 Tag me @motivatewithmelis and share with a friend 🎧 Listen Now On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts https://motivatewithmelis.com /episode/index/show/a84a9244-1b16-4d63-a8d1-c8ba2b664bd9/id/37812895

(#39) - The Pause That Can Change Everything — with Karen Bartholomew 07/31/2025

(#39) - The Pause That Can Change Everything — with Karen Bartholomew Hoops & Glossers - What if your next breakthrough wasn’t in another to-do list… but in the pause? This week on Now What?!, Melis sits down with the radiant and real Karen Bartholomew — life coach, speaker, and creator of The Pause Method. Her work helps women (and leaders who feel like they're juggling flaming swords) slow down long enough to actually hear themselves again. We dive into how overachievement, past conditioning, and people-pleasing can leave us burned out and disconnected from who we really are — and how the power of intentional pause can unlock clarity, peace, and your next big move. 👠 What We Talk About: Karen’s own “Now What?!” moment as a single mom of three Breakdown of the PAUSE Method — and why you’ll want it in your back pocket The stories we tell ourselves (and how to stop believing the lies) How burnout, hustle culture, and childhood beliefs keep us in a loop The truth about being “selfish” (spoiler: it’s a superpower) Practical ideas for reclaiming your joy, your purpose, and your peace 🌀 Karen’s PAUSE Method (teaser version!): P – Perceive: Identify patterns and subconscious stories A – Acknowledge & Accept: Without judgment, see what’s really there U – Unwind: Untangle the mental spaghetti of outdated beliefs S – Shift: Reframe the narrative and reclaim your voice E – Expand: Practice new behaviors, embody the change 💥 Hot Quote Moments: “The brain is designed to keep you safe. Not fulfilled.” “What story are you telling yourself right now — and is it even true?” “The hustle isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a red flag.” 🌱 Want to Dive Deeper? Karen’s free 30-day PAUSE journal: DM “Sanctum” to Karen on Instagram for info about her new community circle Follow her on IG: 🎧 Listen Now On: Spotify | Apple Podcasts 🔁 Share this with your favorite overwhelmed overachiever She might be one pause away from her power. xoxo melis 👉 Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review on Apple or Spotify (because you're my friend, right? RIGHT??) 👉 Tag me @motivatewithmelis and share with a friend /episode/index/show/a84a9244-1b16-4d63-a8d1-c8ba2b664bd9/id/37590460