Episodes

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 , Your Guide for the Dopamine Deprived™️ —an ADHD life coach, speaker, and host of ADHD &... with Jorie Houlihan . After being diagnosed with ADHD at 49, Jorie’s world began to make sense in ways it never had before. But the true transformation came not from the diagnosis itself...

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, bestselling author, coach, and passionate advocate for rewriting your inner narrative so you can step into a life that feels aligned, empowered, and true. Together, we talk about how stories shape identity, influence confidence, and often keep us stuck without even realizing it. Shaun...

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 empowerment coach, keynote speaker, and author Lauren Fay for an honest, compassionate conversation about reclaiming your power and choosing a more conscious way of living. Lauren shares what life looked like before she stopped drinking in 2018, and why she doesn’t frame sob...

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 again and again in conversations throughout the year and reminds us why they matter so deeply for women in midlife. In this episode, we explore: Why feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or emotional doesn’t mean you’re broken How identity shifts in midlife are not a crisis, but an in...

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 of the swirl, take a breath, and settle into the pause between everything you’ve been carrying. This isn’t about meditating “the right way.” It’s simply a few minutes to slow down, soften your shoulders, quiet the noise, and remember you’re allowed to rest, even in the middl...

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 your life, unsure of your next step, or wondering if you’re too late to dream something new, this conversation will remind you just how much is still possible. Steve shares how his own twists and turns, rock bottom moments included, led him to a life built on service, intentio...

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 podcast, explains why your brain deserves as much love and attention as the rest of your body, especially in midlife. After a career that began in the high-stress world of medicine, Dr. Rhodes experienced her own wake-up call: suffering from stress was not inevitable, and our bra...

What if menopause didn’t have to feel like the end of something and instead could be thought of as the messy, magical middle of becoming someone new? In this episode of Message in the Middle , Marianne sits down with Sarah Stenton a UK based comedian, author, and menopause advocate best known as the creator of Middle Age Madness, to talk about how she turned her most difficult season into a movement of humor, healing, and hope. Sarah shares candidly about her own midlife awakening, how hormonal ...

What if your relationship with food wasn’t really about food at all? In this conversation Marianne sits down with Jane McGuinness, Registered Clinical Counsellor and author of Always Hungry, to unpack the tangled relationship many women have with food, body image, and self-worth. Jane’s story is both raw and deeply relatable, she lost over a hundred pounds, navigated divorce, and raised three children (one autistic/transgender), all while learning to reject the noise of diet culture and make ...

What do you do when life shatters the story you thought you were living? In this powerful episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Valerie Silveira, a woman who has faced unimaginable heartbreak and somehow turned it into a mission to help others rise. When Valerie’s daughter Jamie was shot at 18, she survived, but only to be pulled into addiction by the very medication prescribed to help her heal. Twelve years later, Jamie was murdered. Nearly a decade after that devastating...

When life throws storms our way, we often think we’re at our breaking point. But what if the storm is the very place, we discover our truest, strongest selves? In this episode of Message in the Middle , I sit down with Felicity Ashley, adventurer, mother of three, cancer survivor, former corporate marketer, and motivational speaker, to explore resilience, courage, and the power of saying yes to impossible dreams. Felicity’s story is extraordinary. She set out with three other moms to row 3,000 m...

What if the bravest thing you’ll ever do isn’t leaping out of a helicopter, but allowing yourself to truly be seen? In this powerful episode of Message in the Middle , I sit down with Angie Hawkins , an Inner Glow Coach and author of Running in Slippers . After 20 years in Corporate America, Angie traded her high-powered IT Finance Operations career for a mission to help high-achieving women stop chasing approval and start radiating fierce confidence. Angie’s journey is raw, real, and deeply rel...

Have you ever felt like there’s something more calling you, something deeper, more aligned, more you ? If you’ve spent years showing up for everyone else and are now facing a quiet inner nudge that’s hard to ignore, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Message in the Middle , I’m joined by transformational coach Anna Quigley, who has spent over 30 years studying neuroscience, quantum mind-body tools, and sensory imagination. Anna believes that intuition isn’t just a mystical concept,...

Healing our relationship with food, our body, and ourselves is rarely a straight line. In this eye-opening episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with journalist, author, and educator Mallary Tenore Tarpley to explore the often-overlooked “messy middle” of eating disorder recovery. Mallary’s new book, Slip, blends personal memoir with investigative reporting to reveal why recovery is rarely a straight path and how neurobiology, genetics, and lived experience all play a role. If ...

Midlife often brings big transitions, changes in identity, priorities, relationships, and even our own sense of self. But what if the biggest challenge isn’t the circumstances around us, but the stories we tell ourselves about them? In this episode of Message in the Middle , I sit down with Cheryl Fischer, speaker, trainer, event moderator, host of the Mind Your Midlife podcast, and certified Life and Mindset Coach. Cheryl works with women to shift the inner narrative from “I’m stuck” or “I’m no...

Midlife brings so many shifts—children leaving home, aging parents, career changes, identity shifts, and layered on top of it all, grief in its many forms. Sometimes it’s the loss of a loved one, and other times it’s the ache of realizing life looks different than we imagined. In this episode of Message in the Middle , I’m joined by Jane Dye, a registered nurse, board-certified holistic health coach, and certified grief educator. With more than 30 years of nursing practice, much of it in psychia...

What if aging wasn’t about decline, but about becoming more fully yourself? In this episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with bestselling author and leadership coach Erika Andersen to talk about what it really means to age well—and how we can begin preparing for a vibrant “third act” of life long before we get there. Erika has spent more than 30 years guiding senior leaders at companies like Spotify, Amazon, and Charter through deep transformation. Now, in her seventies, she’s turning...

Have you ever felt like your own mind is working against you? That no matter how much you want to change, old patterns and doubts keep pulling you back? In this episode of Message in the Middle , I sit down with educator, entrepreneur, and author Mitch Weisburgh to talk about his new book MindShifting: Stop Your Brain from Sabotaging Your Happiness and Success . Mitch has spent decades helping people and organizations learn, grow, and adapt and now he’s sharing practical tools to help us do the ...

If you’ve spent years counting calories, restricting foods, or shaming yourself for not having the “perfect” body, you’re not alone. For so many women, especially in midlife, the relationship with food and body image can feel like an exhausting tug-of-war. But what if the way out isn’t about more willpower or stricter rules? What if it’s about relearning how to trust yourself? In this episode of Message in the Middle , I sit down with Joanne Edinberg , Certified Eating Psychology Coach and found...

If you’ve been feeling the weight of the world lately, wondering how we got here, why everything feels so divided, or how to reconnect to yourself in a culture that seems more disconnected than ever, this episode offers a thoughtful, healing perspective. In this soulful and timely conversation, Marianne sits down with Phyllis Leavitt , a seasoned psychotherapist, spiritual seeker, and author of America in Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis . Drawing from more than...

What if the words you speak could shape your reality and what if the key to moving forward was simply refusing to quit on your hardest days? In this empowering episode of Message in the Middle , I’m joined by Hall of Fame athlete, award-winning entrepreneur, and bestselling author Phebe Trotman. As the powerhouse behind the Never Quit on a Bad Day book series, Phebe shares her deeply personal philosophy on resilience, the transformative power of intentional language, and what it really means to ...

In this episode of Message in the Middle , we’re diving into the often-overwhelming world of career change and job search strategy. I’m joined by Amy Adler , president of Five Strengths Career Transition Experts and a nationally recognized expert in resume writing and career positioning. With credentials like Certified Master Resume Writer , Certified Executive Resume Master , and Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert , Amy brings the perfect mix of strategy and heart to career transition. ...

Have you ever felt exhausted for no clear reason? Struggled with anxiety that seems to come out of nowhere? Or found yourself wondering why, despite doing all the “right” things, you still don’t feel like you ? If so, this episode of Message in the Middle might shine a light on a hidden factor that could change everything. Marianne is joined by Natalie Jurado , a certified magnesium expert and the founder of Rooted In , a wellness brand focused on helping women reclaim their energy, clarity, and...

Ever feel like you’re running on empty while trying to keep it all together? You’re not alone — and you’re not broken. In this episode of Message in the Middle , I’m joined by Jenny Evans — global speaker, author, and expert in the chemistry of stress, confidence, and performance. Jenny breaks down what’s really happening in your body when you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or soul-tired — and how resilience isn’t just a mindset, it’s a biological skill you can train. We explore: Why so man...