Message In The Middle
Finding Meaningful Messages in Midlife -
Let's Navigate, Grow, and Thrive Together
Recent Episodes
Turning Heartbreak Into Art: Nikki Allen on Healing, Identity & Reinv…
In this powerful conversation, Marianne sits down with author and creative visionary Nikki Allen , whose novel Loved You, Hated You began as a song, became a screenplay, and ultimately transformed into a raw, emotionally char...
From Fight, Flight, or Freeze to Ease: Reconnecting with Your Nervous…
If you’ve ever felt like your body and your mind were working against you—stuck in stress, burnout, or exhaustion—this episode is for you. Marianne sits down with Kelly Hale , a wellness practitioner with over 25 years of exp...
You’re Not Broken, You’re Wired Differently: ADHD, Midlife, and Thriv…
What happens when you realize in midlife that your brain has been playing by a completely different rulebook all along? In this episode of Message in the Middle , host Marianne DeMello-Smith sits down with Jorie Houlihan , Yo...
The Power of Storytelling: How to Rewrite Your Life with Shaunna Lee
In this episode of Message in the Middle , we’re exploring something deeply human and undeniably powerful: the stories we tell about ourselves and how changing them can change everything. I’m joined by Shaunna Lee, bestsellin...
You’re Not Giving Something Up, You’re Taking Yourself Back: Lauren F…
Many women in midlife begin to question habits they once accepted without much thought, for some that includes their relationship with alcohol. In this episode of Message in the Middle , Marianne sits down with alcohol-free ...
You’re Not Broken; You’re Becoming: A Solo Episode of 2025 Reflection…
As we come to the end of the year and step into a new one, this episode of Message in the Middle is meant to feel like a bridge between seasons. Instead of a detailed recap, Marianne reflects on the themes that showed up agai...
Your Midday Reset: A Few Minutes to Breathe, Pause, and Come Back to …
If life has been feeling loud, heavy, or just a little too fast lately, this short, guided reset might be just what you didn't know you needed. In today’s mini episode of Message in the Middle , I’m inviting you to step out o...
Midlife Momentum with Steve Gamlin: Vision Boards, Action & the Confi…
In today’s episode of Message in the Middle , I’m joined by the one and only Steve Gamlin, speaker, author, storyteller, vision-board expert, and “The Motivational Firewood® Guy.” If you’ve ever felt stuck in the middle of yo...
Falling in Love With Your Brain: Midlife Brain Health with Dr. Leonau…
Stress, memory lapses, and brain fog aren’t just “part of getting older.” In this powerful conversation, Dr. Leonaura Rhodes, a physician turned executive coach, corporate trainer, author, and host of the Mindful Medics podca...
Recent Blog Posts
Embracing Your Second Act with Shannon Russell
If you’re like many women I talk to, you might feel like you’ve spent the first half of your life checking all the boxes, doing all the things. Career, family, helping with your aging parents, responsibility after responsibility, a…
Can We Really Have It All? A Candid Conversation About Burnout and Ba…
What if the path to a more fulfilling life didn’t require running yourself into the ground first? In this week’s episode of Message in the Middle, I sat down with Dr. Denise Brown—Stanford-trained physician, former CEO, strategic …
Creating Safer Spaces: How to Help Your Loved Ones Age in Place with …
As our loved ones get older, many of them express a strong desire to stay in the homes they know and love—but that doesn’t mean those spaces are ready to support them as they age. From fall risks to poor lighting and tricky stairs, the h…