In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Laini to reflect on our recent retreat in the Azores. I share my experiences leading 16 incredible midlife women through a transformative journey on this breathtaking island. We discuss how this unique gathering created space for authentic connection, vulnerability, and personal growth as we collectively redefined what health and vitality mean in this season of our lives.

Just a few things we discuss in this episode:

• The power of sisterhood: how women supporting women creates an environment where true transformation can occur.
• Embracing discomfort: how both international travel and vulnerable conversations pushed us all beyond our comfort zones in the most beautiful ways.
• Body wisdom over body criticism: how being in our bodies vs thinking about them led to deeper acceptance and appreciation.

… and so much more.

Learn more and listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-392

Have a listen, and if this episode and experience land for you, join the waitlist to be notified of 2026 Grace & Grit retreat opportunities!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

S.U.R.G.E. Immersive Experience

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⬇️ Tools to rock your second act.

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In this episode, we explore the five essential pillars that empower women to navigate midlife with renewed purpose and energy. Rather than fighting against natural transitions (hello, menopause!), we discuss how to harness your accumulated wisdom to create sustainable vitality during this transformative phase. The episode highlights why the strategies that served you in your 30s often fail to support you now, and introduces a framework specifically designed for midlife women’s unique challenges.

At the heart of this episode is the concept of consistent self-honoring—recognizing that true consistency isn’t rigid adherence to perfect plans but an unwavering commitment to honor yourself through life’s inevitable changes. We explore how sustainable change, self-awareness, energy-aligned planning, self-trust, and adaptive resilience work together to create lasting transformation.

Key takeaways include…

• Understanding why dramatic overhauls typically fail midlife women
• How hormone fluctuations affect energy levels and require new planning approaches
• Practical techniques for rebuilding self-trust after periods of self-neglect
• The transformative power of adapting your expectations while maintaining core commitments

Have a listen, and if it lands, consider sharing it with the women in your life who could benefit from hearing the message.

You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-391

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• The Consistency Code LIVE – we begin September 8th!
• Grab your FREE Grace & Grit Reset: 5 Steps to Reclaim Your Midlife Momentum
• Resource Library

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⬇️ Tools to rock your second act.

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In this enlightening chat with strength coach extraordinaire Steph Gaudreau, we dive headfirst into the adventure of building strength, making bold life leaps, and embracing growth in midlife with open arms (and maybe some dumbbells). Steph drops truth bombs about strength training for women over 40 and reveals how picking up new skills can be the ultimate form of self-care.

We also explore…

• Why giving yourself permission to pivot isn’t just okay—it’s the secret sauce to living your most deliciously fulfilling life
• The real scoop on why strength training is a midlife woman’s BFF (hint: it’s not about looking good in skinny jeans)
• How challenging your brain with new skills can put more life into your life
• Recovery and training hacks that actually work with your hormones instead of against them
• No-nonsense advice for building a fitness practice that’ll keep you crushing it for decades—because midlife is just the beginning of your strongest chapter

Whether you’re contemplating a major life shake-up or simply want to feel like a badass after 40 (or both!), this episode serves up the inspiration and practical wisdom to help you embrace your strongest, most vibrant self in midlife and beyond.

You can listen here: http://graceandgrit.com/podcast-390

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Free Lifting Guide

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⬇️ Tools to rock your second act.

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In this episode, we explore the journey from living on autopilot to becoming the conscious author of your life, especially for women in midlife. We discuss how years of prioritizing others, societal conditioning, and overwhelming responsibilities can lead to disconnection from our authentic desires and purpose.

Key points covered:

• The signs you're living on autopilot: feeling like you're just checking boxes, making decisions based on habit rather than desire, and struggling to articulate what you truly want
• Why midlife women are particularly susceptible to autopilot living and the hidden costs of this disconnection
• Practical strategies to wake up and reclaim your authorship, including the Power of Pause, daily intention setting, and conscious disruption of patterns
• How to shift from "should" to "could" thinking to open up new possibilities
• The importance of starting your day on purpose and regularly checking in with yourself

Remember that purpose isn't something you find—it's something you choose, every single day.

You can listen here: http://graceandgrit.com/podcast-389

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

FREE Life on Purpose Guide: https://graceandgrit.com/resources

***

⬇️ Tools to rock your second act.

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In this conversation with Val Thompson, a woman of Grace & Grit, we dive deep into the reality of midlife for women today. If you’re navigating the fog of hormonal shifts, processing major life transitions, or simply wondering “what’s next?” as you create your second-half-of-life blueprint, this discussion offers both validation and direction.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

• Practical approaches to reclaim your energy when you feel depleted by life’s demands
• How to make peace with your “expectations” for how your body is supposed to behave at midlife
• Mindset shifts to help you embrace restoration as an act of sef-honoring.

The truth is, midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s an invitation to reclaim yourself. To stop putting yourself last. To recognize that your healthiest, most fulfilling years can absolutely be ahead of you, not behind you.

Listen now if you’re ready to shift from feeling overwhelmed and overscheduled to becoming aligned, empowered, and energized in this magnificent midlife season.

Learn more and listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-388

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Free Discovery Call with Val

***

⬇️ Tools to rock your second act.

✅ Start Here: https://graceandgrit.com/start-here/

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While the world steals your attention in a thousand different ways, your one wild and precious life is happening right now. In this episode of Grace & Grit, I explore the revolutionary power of presence for midlife women and why it’s the missing ingredient in truly experiencing this rich stage of life.

I share my personal journey with presence (including how I learned this lesson the hard way!) and guide you through understanding what true presence looks like amid hormonal fluctuations, career evolutions, and relationship shifts.

You’ll discover:

• Why your body is your most reliable anchor to the present moment and how to use physical sensations to interrupt the mind’s tendency to time-travel
• The top “presence thieves” that are robbing midlife women of their most precious moments
• Simple yet powerful practices that don’t require adding more to your already full plate

This conversation isn’t about perfecting yet another aspect of your life…it’s about fully inhabiting the remarkable journey you’re already on. I’ve watched too many brilliant women sleepwalk through their most potent years, and I’m on a mission to change that. Your presence is revolutionary in a world designed to scatter your attention.

You can listen here: http://graceandgrit.com/podcast-387

Download my free “Midlife Presence Revolution” guide here https://graceandgrit.com/resources for additional support in reclaiming your presence and experiencing the depth and richness that only comes when you’re fully here, fully you.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

FREE Midlife Presence Revolution Guide: https://graceandgrit.com/resources

***

⬇️ Tools to rock your second act.

✅ Start Here: https://graceandgrit.com/start-here/

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In this episode, I dive deep into a topic that’s rarely discussed but incredibly important: the art of pleasure at midlife. I’m joined by Laini Gray as we explore why many women have either disconnected from intentional pleasure or are caught in cycles of false pleasures that don’t truly satisfy.

We cover:

• The science behind pleasure – How our brain chemistry works and why pleasure matters for our health and longevity
• False pleasures vs. true pleasures – Understanding the difference between momentary escapes and genuine joy
• The unique challenges midlife women face – Why we struggle to prioritize pleasure and how societal messaging contributes
• Practical strategies – Simple ways to incorporate more meaningful pleasure into your daily life

This conversation isn’t just about indulgence—it’s about reclaiming your right to joy and making pleasure a non-negotiable part of your wellness journey. If you’ve been feeling disconnected from what truly brings you happiness, this episode is your permission slip to prioritize pleasure again.

Learn more and listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-386

Have a listen and share this with a midlife woman who might need to hear the message.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Pleasure Principles Masterclass
https://graceandgrit.com/pleasure-principles

***

⬇️ Tools to rock your second act.

✅ Start Here: https://graceandgrit.com/start-here/

✅ Listen to the Podcast: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast

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In this episode of the Grace & Grit podcast, I help listeners explore the concept of unnecessary labor and how releasing these burdens can transform your midlife health and vitality:

• Discover what “unnecessary labor” is and why it’s particularly harmful during the midlife transition
• Understand the direct connection between unnecessary labor and hormonal imbalance, chronic stress, and inflammation
• Identify the warning signs that you’re carrying too much and the thought patterns perpetuating this cycle
• Get practical first steps to put down what isn’t yours to carry
• Access the free guide “Permission to Put It Down” for deeper insights and tools

This episode provides a powerful reframe: setting down unnecessary burdens isn’t selfish—it’s essential medicine for your midlife body and mind.

You can listen here: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast-385

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Grab your FREE Permission to Put It Down Guide https://graceandgrit.com/resources

***

⬇️ Tools to rock your second act.

✅ Start Here: https://graceandgrit.com/start-here/

✅ Listen to the Podcast: https://graceandgrit.com/podcast

✅ Weekly Bit of Grace & Grit: https://graceandgrit.com/rumbleandrise

✅ ️Leave a Podcast Review: https://graceandgrit.com/podcastreview

✅ Rumble & Rise with Courtney: https://graceandgrit.com/readytorumble

✅ Subscribe on YouTube: https://graceandgrit.com/youtube-subscribe

✅ Visit us online: https://graceandgrit.com