What if the best part of your life was still ahead of you?

In this inspiring conversation, Laurie sits down with Kathi Holzer—a 67-year-old retiree who stumbled into painting after retirement and is now an award-winning artist. Kathi shares how she went from never having painted to creating pieces that now hang in homes across the country. This episode is a powerful reminder that your creativity doesn’t expire with age—and your next act could be your most fulfilling one yet.

Kathi gets real about:

• Feeling creatively “late to the game”… and doing it anyway
• How retirement can be the start of something, not the end
• Why she followed a nudge of curiosity—and how it changed everything
• What midlife women need to hear about starting new things later in life

Whether you’re standing on the edge of a new idea or feeling like your time has passed, this episode will remind you: it’s never too late to surprise yourself.

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You don’t get what you don’t claim—so what are you ready to stop whispering about and start declaring?

🎙 Episode Summary:

Midlife isn’t the time to keep performing, people-pleasing, or pretending. It’s the moment to finally get honest about what you actually want—not what you've been told to want, conditioned to want, or praised for wanting.

In this fiery solo episode, Laurie drops the mic on why high-achieving women feel stuck, even when their lives “look good on paper,” and reveals the powerful shift that happens when you stop waiting for clarity and start claiming your desires.

We’re talking about the difference between passive wishing and bold ownership. Why claiming what you want feels selfish (spoiler: it’s not). And why you don’t need to blow up your life to start living differently—you just need to stop outsourcing your happiness and start making small intentional moves that align with the woman you are now.

If you’ve been craving more clarity, more direction, and more you in your life, this one’s going to light a fire under you.

🔥 In This Episode:

• Why claiming is different from wishing or hoping
• The fear of “burning it all down” (and why you don’t need to)
• The problem with living a life someone else defined as “successful”
• How to start flexing your “claim it” muscle with tangible tools like the Morning 5-10-5
• Why waiting for permission is keeping you stuck

💬 Memorable Quote:

📌 Links and Mentions:

• Ep. 143. You're Not Here to Be the Martyr: Reclaiming Your Life in Midlife
• Best Life Planner
• Best Life Planning Day – Boise

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What if you could use “weight release” to get back to who you were always meant to be?

💬 Episode Summary:

In this empowering conversation, I sit down with Juliana Leamen, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, podcast host, and bestselling author, to explore a radically different approach to weight loss and wellness in midlife.

Juliana brings the receipts—blending science, functional genomics, and feminine wisdom—to help high-achieving women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s ditch the punishment-based wellness playbook and reconnect with their bodies. She shares how unlocking her own DNA helped her release over 30 pounds—and how you can do the same, without self-abandonment or shame.

We dive into:

• The difference between weight loss and weight release—and why it matters
• Why so much wellness advice feels like a full-time job for midlife women
• The hidden masculine energy driving burnout in your body
• How functional DNA testing can help you customize your health strategy
• Why trying to "fix" your body is a losing game—and what to do instead

This is your permission slip to stop hustling your way to health. There's a smarter, softer, science-backed path—and Juliana is here to walk you through it.

🧠 About Juliana Leamen:

Juliana is the founder of Naturally Joyous Inc., host of the Confidence From Within podcast, and author of the bestselling book Release – A Woman's Guide to Releasing Weight in Midlife Through Becoming Your Body’s Best Friend. She holds a Master’s in Science, is board-certified by The American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners, and specializes in functional DNA testing for weight management and longevity in perimenopause and post-menopause.

After releasing 30+ pounds by applying what she teaches, Juliana helps other high-achieving midlife women shift to a functional and feminine approach to wellness—one that works with their bodies instead of against them.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Juliana’s work: naturallyjoyous.ca
• Grab her bestselling book: Release – A Woman's Guide to Releasing Weight in Midlife

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