Episodes

In this insightful episode of Message in the Middle , Marianne sits down with Hilary Russo , a trauma-informed holistic mental health expert, award-winning journalist, and international speaker, to explore the power of self-havening, holistic healing, and her signature HUG it Out® Method . Hilary, the voice behind the globally ranked HIListically Speaking® podcast and a familiar face on QVC and national TV, shares her journey from a successful 30-year career in journalism to becoming one of only...

In this episode we're diving into retirement life planning with Wendy Leggett. Wendy is a Certified Coach and the owner of Conflux Retirement Coaching, where she specializes in non-financial retirement transitions. With 25 years of corporate sales leadership experience, Wendy helps clients redefine their identity, find purpose, build social connections, and embrace positive aging. In This Episode, We Cover: ✅ What retirement coaching is and how Wendy helps clients navigate this major li...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Message in the Middle, host Marianne welcomes the inspiring Julie DeLucca-Collins to the show. Julie is a TEDx speaker, business coach, co-host of the Casa De Confidence podcast, and an award-winning author dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and leaders unlock their full potential. Julie shares her remarkable story of resilience, from navigating the challenges of being laid off from a high-powered corporate role to finding her voice as a coach and podcaster...

In this episode of Message In the Middle Marianne shares some personal experiences and the life lessons they brought forth. Overview of Recent Events: The past few weeks have been eventful, filled with heartache, celebrations, and introspection. As the whirlwind of the holiday season passed, I found myself reflecting on the pace of life and the importance of cherishing moments with loved ones. Remembering Bell: Sadly, amidst the busy start to January, we lost our beloved cat, Bell. Despite not b...

In this episode of M essage in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Dr. Moe Anderson, a TEDx speaker, award-winning podcast host, published author, cancer survivor, and Doctor of Dental Surgery. Dr. Moe’s diverse background and dedication to wellness, communication, and building strong relationships make her an inspiring force for transformation. Dr Moe shares why she landed in a dentistry career but still became a celebrated author and motivational speaker. She shares her insights on balancing m...

In this episode of Message in the Middle , Marianne dives into the topic of creative self-care with Crystal McLain, a licensed massage therapist and host of the Creative Self Care podcast. Crystal shares her unique approach to “creative self-care,” a practice that harnesses curiosity, critical thinking, and ingenuity to strengthen the mind-body connection. Together, they discuss practical tips, bust self-care myths, and uncover actionable strategies to help you thrive in 2025. Whether you’re set...

Today’s episode features one of our favorite guests, Shiloh Minor—a devoted wife, mother, and empowerment coach helping women cultivate deeply connected marriages and break generational cycles of emotional neglect. In this candid and thought-provoking conversation, Shiloh and I explore themes of imperfection, personal growth, and the courage it takes to step forward boldly—even when we feel unprepared. Inspired by a social media post from Shiloh that deeply resonated with me, we unpack some of o...

Whether you're looking to simplify your goals, gain clarity, or just live more intentionally, you're in the right place. This week, we're diving into finding a guiding word or theme for the year. Why Choose a Guiding Word or Theme? Simplifies Goal Setting: Instead of rigid resolutions, a guiding word or theme provides an "overarching intention," acting as a compass rather than a specific goal. Clarity and Direction: A guiding word offers focus and eliminates distractions.Gentle Motivati...

Today we’re reflecting on some of the most inspiring, thought-provoking, and transformative conversations from 2024. Menopause: Breaking the Silence - In 2024 we had several important conversations about menopause with guests like Lisa Boate in Understanding Menopause: A Deep Dive and Sarah Stenton in Laughing Through Middle Age Madness . Lisa provided foundational knowledge on menopause, including symptoms and coping strategies, while Sarah used humor to build community and normalize menopause ...

In this empowering episode of Message In the Middle , I’m joined by Courtney McCarthy, CEO and Founder of LOYOBO (Love Your Body), a transformative community for women tired of shrinking themselves to fit societal standards. As an ACE Certified Fitness Instructor and Body Image & Mindful Eating Coach, Courtney’s mission is clear: rewrite the rules around health, fitness, and self-worth by embracing radical body acceptance, joyful movement, and food freedom. Courtney shares her personal journey, ...

In this deeply moving episode of Message in the Middle , host Marianne welcomes Andy Grant, a Transformational Energy Coach and the award-winning host of Real Men Feel . Known as the King of Authenticity, Andy shares his raw and inspiring story of navigating depression, surviving multiple suicide attempts, and discovering the tools to help himself and others embrace life’s challenges with resilience and hope. This candid conversation is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the courage i...

In this solo episode of Message in the Middle , host Marianne reflects on her Thanksgiving experience and how she has transformed her approach to holiday gatherings. She candidly shares her journey from chasing perfection to embracing imperfection, creating a more peaceful, meaningful, and authentic holiday season. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by holiday expectations or struggled to “do it all,” this episode may resonate with you. Marianne’s insights, personal anecdotes, and practical strateg...

The holiday season is here, and while it can be a time of joy and togetherness, it often comes with stress, overcommitment, and a sense of overwhelm. In this episode of Message in the Middle , Marianne welcomes back productivity coach Lisa Zawrotny, founder of Positively Productive Systems and host of the Positively Living® Podcast . Together, they share practical tips to help you navigate holiday chaos with ease, ensuring you can enjoy the season without sacrificing your sanity. Lisa’s expertis...

In this episode, Marianne sits down with Dr. Carrie Holland, a board-certified family physician, personal trainer, and health & life coach. Dr. Holland is the CEO of her life coaching practice, and the host of the Strong is a Mindset podcast. With a passion for helping high-achieving, busy women, Dr. Holland focuses on building strong habits in Eating, Moving, and Thinking. Her unique approach combines habit psychology, mindset tools, and deep expertise in nutrition and exercise. Topics Discusse...

In this episode, Marianne sits down with Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, PhD—founder of Nutrivore.com and NY Times best-selling author of Nutrivore: The Radical New Science for Getting the Nutrients You Need from the Food You Eat. With Nutrivore, Dr. Sarah has created a positive and inclusive approach to dietary guidance based in science, using nutrient density and sufficiency as its basic principles. Dr. Sarah shares her approach to eating called "Nutrivore," which empowers us to enjoy our favorite foods...

Join us for a powerful episode of Message In the Middle , as we sit down with Dr. Robb Kelly, PhD, a globally recognized addiction and recovery expert who has lived the extremes of addiction firsthand and now works to empower others to reclaim their lives. Episode Highlights Dr. Robb Kelly’s Backstory Early Years of Addiction : At just 9 years old, Dr. Kelly started drinking, escalating into heavy alcoholism as a teen and into his early twenties. By his late twenties, he hit rock bottom but bega...

In this solo episode of Message In the Middle , host Marianne explores what it means to live intentionally, shares examples from her own life, offers insights on key areas to look at if you want to get out of auto pilot and move to a more intentional way of living, and shares some of the benefits of doing so. Key Topics Discussed Understanding Intentional Living: We begin by defining intentional living as making conscious choices to shape your life, rather than simply reacting to circumstances. ...

If you've ever struggled with feeling constantly tired, experiencing unexplained weight gain, or dealing with persistent inflammation and puffiness, this episode is for you. Today, we're diving into the world of anti-inflammatory nutrition with Ashley Malik, who has navigated her own health journey, including overcoming Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism. Through over a decade of research and personal experience, Ashley has developed an anti-inflammatory approach to help women transform their hea...

Today’s episode is a must-listen for anyone striving to build a healthy lifestyle, maintain weight loss, or just stay consistent with exercise and movement. Joining me today is Jodi Dolo, a certified nutritionist and personal trainer who has an inspiring journey of losing and maintaining a 90-pound weight loss after a health scare in 2017. She's the co-host of the Mindful Muscle podcast and actively supports body positivity through community leadership. Discussion Points: Journey to Health: Jodi...

In this candid solo episode of Message In the Middle , host Marianne reflects on a deeply personal moment of self-realization. After years of striving for perfection and external validation, and driving from a place of control, Marianne shares a transformative experience that happened during her nightly routine—a moment when she looked in the mirror and, for the first time, truly saw her middle-aged self with softness and acceptance. She opens up about how her evolving hairstyle mirrored her int...

In today's episode of Message in the Middle, host Marianne is joined by health industry veteran Esther Avant, who brings over 18 years of experience in fitness, nutrition, and wellness. Together, they take a deep dive into the "Six Big Rocks of Exercise and Nutrition" and explore Esther's "Gone For Good" framework, designed to help individuals build a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. The 6 Big Rocks of Nutrition and Exercise Esther advocates for focusing on six core "rocks" to establish ...

Hello and welcome to Message In the Middle. Joining me today is Elizabeth Harris. Elizabeth’s motto is “self-care, not self-control because food is meant to be enjoyed, movement should make you happy, and because we’ve all got better things to do than counting carbs or calories!" Elizabeth is a certified Intuitive Eating counselor, a registered dietitian, speaker, entrepreneur, and co-host of the podcast Wellness Rebranded. Topics Discussed: Healing Our Relationship with Food Signs that our rela...

In this empowering episode of Message In the Middle , host Marianne sits down with Tara De Leon, a highly credentialed personal trainer, professor of Health, Fitness, and Exercise Studies, podcaster, speaker, and Amazon best-selling author. Tara has helped hundreds of women feel confident and empowered by teaching them how to lift weights, get strong, and embrace their bodies without apology. Tara is also the co-host of the Wellness Rebranded podcast, where she collaborates with a dietitian and ...

In this episode of Message In the Middle , host Marianne is joined by the inspiring Lunaria Gaia, a dynamic speaker, coach, podcast host, and 2-time Amazon best-selling author of “Get Happy & Free: Unlocking the Happiness Code” and “Perfectly Imperfect: Your Complete Guide to Loving Yourself and Loving Your Body.” Lunaria shares her journey from self-hatred to self-love and uses her lived experience to help other women cultivate confidence, self- love, and an unshakable connection to their true ...