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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What if being called “selfish” was actually your first clue that you’re finally doing it right?

Episode Summary:

We’ve been taught our whole lives that putting ourselves first is selfish. That the gold star goes to the woman who juggles all the balls, sacrifices the most, and never drops a single one—especially not the ones tied to motherhood, marriage, or work. But what if that’s the exact mindset that’s keeping you stuck?

In this episode, we’re flipping the script on what it means to be “selfish.” Laurie shares how embracing this misunderstood word is actually the gateway to living your best life in midlife—not someone else’s idea of it. You’ll hear how the conditioning of self-sacrifice shows up in sneaky ways and how reclaiming your energy, your time, and your identity isn’t just okay—it’s imperative.

This episode isn’t about blowing up your life. It’s about choosing yourself—without apology. Because the truth is: no one’s going to give you permission to prioritize yourself. You have to take it.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why “selfish” isn’t the dirty word you’ve been taught it is
• How societal and cultural conditioning keeps high-achieving women stuck in people-pleasing cycles
• Real talk about what it means to reclaim your energy in midlife
• What choosing yourself actually looks like—without burning it all down
• Why the feminine energy of receiving and resting isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity

If you’re ready to stop asking for permission and start living like your life belongs to you again, this one’s for you.

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This is the story of what happens when a woman finally says: enough.

In this deeply moving episode of The School of Midlife, Laurie is joined by Megan Hodgdon—a survivor, entrepreneur, award-winning food artist, and living proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

Megan’s journey includes surviving two abusive marriages, navigating the court system, rebuilding trust, reclaiming her identity, and eventually launching a thriving charcuterie business—Boise Beauty Boards—that’s earned her recognition as a top food influencer and local favorite.

You’ll hear how Megan’s business started as a graduation party Pinterest idea and became a full-fledged career that’s not only provided for her family, but also helped her rebuild her confidence, her community, and her voice.

This conversation is about pain—but even more about power.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a life that doesn’t reflect who you really are, Megan’s story will remind you: you can walk through fire and still come out whole—and better than before.

⚠️ Content Note:

This episode includes discussion of domestic violence, including physical and emotional abuse. Please take care while listening.

💡 In This Episode:

• Why it took Megan nearly 15 years to leave—and what finally changed
• The real challenges of navigating the court system as a survivor
• How charcuterie boards (yes, really) became her creative outlet and calling
• The power of saying YES to yourself—and creating Act 3 on your own terms
• Advice for women considering entrepreneurship in midlife
• How she handles internet trolls (and goes viral anyway)

🔥 Favorite Quotes:

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In this episode, host Laurie Reynoldson dives into a truth many high-achieving women avoid admitting: the discomfort, guilt, and conditioning around prioritizing ourselves.

We’re in midlife—when everyone wants us to believe we should be winding down, focusing on others, or finally feeling “settled.” But what if this is actually the season when you’re supposed to become more of yourself? What if the life you've built isn't the life you truly want?

Laurie unpacks:

• Why we wait for a crisis to finally make a change
• The cultural conditioning that tells women they should be grateful, not hungry for more
• The mindset shift that turns midlife from a “meh” season into the main event
• Why "I should be happy" is not the same as I am fulfilled
• The power of asking: What do I want now?—without apology or explanation

If you’ve been feeling the quiet nudge (or loud scream) that something needs to shift, this is your reminder: You don’t need permission to want more. You just need to stop pretending you don’t.

LINKS + MENTIONS:

Email Laurie with Retreat Yes!

Essentialism, by Greg McKeown

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What if the secret to feeling strong and confident in midlife isn’t about starting over—but finally doing the small, sustainable things you've been avoiding?

In this episode, host Laurie Reynoldson talks with Renee Bellinger, a certified nutrition and health mindset coach with a background in counseling psychology. Renee is on a mission to help high-achieving midlife women get out of the all-or-nothing trap and finally build the foundation their future selves can stand on—without crash diets, guilt, or burnout.

They also take on one of the buzziest tools in the weight loss world right now: GLP-1 medications. Renee shares her hot take on why rapid weight loss without habit change can backfire—and what you should focus on instead.

This episode is packed with truth bombs, permission slips, and simple mindset shifts that will get you thinking about your body, your health, and your habits in a totally different way.

💡 In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why small, repeatable habits matter more than “starting strong”
• The psychology behind behavior change (and how it trips up perfectionists)
• Why GLP-1s might help you lose weight fast—but won’t keep it off without habit change
• The power of identity-based goals vs outcome-based ones
• The sneaky way perfectionism and “all-or-nothing” thinking keep women stuck

🔥 Why You’ll Love It:

This isn’t a conversation about looking a certain way—it’s about feeling like yourself again. If you’ve been stuck in start-stop cycles, putting everyone else first, or wondering why motivation never lasts, this episode will meet you where you are and show you a better way forward.

Renee doesn’t hand you a 42-step health overhaul. She hands you a flashlight—and helps you finally see what’s actually in your way.

LINKS + MENTIONS:

Connect with Renee on Instagram

Connect with Renee on her website

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Have you been wondering…Is this a midlife crisis?

Nope. It’s not. Not even close.

In this episode, Laurie Reynoldson is blowing up the outdated narrative that midlife has to be a downward spiral. If you've found yourself waking up, feeling like something’s off—or like the life you’ve built doesn’t quite fit anymore—it’s not a crisis. It’s a damn awakening.

We're diving deep into what’s actually going on for high-achieving midlife women: the identity shifts, the whispers of “more,” the restlessness that isn’t fixed by a new job, new car, or a few downward dogs.

And instead of burning it all down, this episode explores what it looks like to tune in, take inventory, and get honest about the life you want—starting now.

Because midlife isn’t falling apart. It’s coming back to yourself.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why what you’re feeling isn’t a crisis—it’s a calling.
• The real reason external success isn’t cutting it anymore.
• The hidden costs of staying stuck in autopilot.
• What it means to stop waiting for permission and reclaim your power.
• A powerful reframing of midlife as a beginning—not an ending.

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