Over 50 Shades of Great: The Podcast

Discover the reality behind Bachelor wardrobe fittings. Cary Fetman joins us to share what goes into styling for reality TV.Cary Fetman has spent decades shaping the look of Hollywood icons, from dressing Oprah in Chicago to his legendary work with Joan Rivers. We move past the glitz to discuss the intense logistics of celebrity styling, including the chaos of proposal-day heat and the reality of...

Are you feeling stuck in a rut and unsure of how to move forward? The moment you realize you need to change everything can be a daunting and overwhelming experience. In this video, we'll explore the signs that indicate it's time for a change and provide guidance on how to navigate this critical moment in your life. From recognizing the need for transformation to taking the first steps towa...

Building confidence is a journey that many of us embark on, especially during periods of significant change such as midlife reinvention. As we navigate through life after 50, it's common to feel uncertain about our career paths, personal style, and overall sense of self-worth. However, it's precisely during these moments of uncertainty that we have the opportunity to rediscover ourselves a...

Dating after 60: Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos on finding love after loss, life after The Golden Bachelorette with Chock Chapple, and rediscovering herself beyond motherhood and caregiving. On this episode of Over 50 Shades of Great, Joan reunites with Deborah, a producer who shared her Golden Bachelorette journey, for a warm, funny, and personal conversation about what happened on camera — and...

Get ready for the most unfiltered conversation about life after 50. We have talk about ageism, cosmetic procedures, retirement and reinvention. From the pressures of workplace ageism to the joy of grandparenting, Eric gets real about confidence, body image, and staying engaged in a world that can be quick to overlook older people. Along the way: the state of his face after fillers, a retirement in...

The Secrets No One Tells You Dating after 50 — or wondering whether lasting love is still possible? In this episode of the Over 50 Shades of Great podcast, Hollywood matchmaker and dating coach Jaydi Samuels Kuba joins Deborah Read to reveal what actually creates connection, chemistry, and a lasting relationship. Dating over 50 comes with its own rules. Jaydi shares the biggest dating mistakes tha...

After 21 years at Nike, Kim Lawrence was laid off in a five-minute call—and the identity she had spent decades building disappeared with it. Known throughout Hollywood as “Nike Kim,” she had worked in entertainment and sports marketing, cultivating relationships with filmmakers, producers and studios. Her career included projects associated with Black Panther , Space Jam: A New Legacy and other ma...

Writer, director, and producer Simbi Hall joins Deborah for a deeply personal conversation about grief, faith, creativity, and rebuilding a life after unimaginable loss. Simbi reflects on her career producing live television, including years working on the Oscars red carpet, and shares why she believes stories can change hearts in ways politics cannot. She also opens up about losing her aunt, fath...

Kristen Doute, known from Vanderpump Rules and The Valley—joins Deborah Read for an honest conversation about the role that has transformed her most: becoming a mother. Kristen opens up about welcoming her daughter, Kaia, in her 40s; the disorienting reality of postpartum identity; and returning to filming when her baby was only a few months old. She shares why she no longer feels compelled to fig...

What do you do when someone you love is struggling with addiction—but refuses to admit there’s a problem? Addiction expert Amber Hollingsworth joins Deborah to reveal how families can recognize the hidden signs of addiction, reach someone who is in denial, and offer support without pushing them further away. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Amber explains why high-functioning addiction...

Money doesn’t have to be frightening—it’s a tool that can help you create the life you want. Deborah sits down with Jennifer R. Lee, AWMA®, AIF®, for an encouraging conversation about facing your finances, moving beyond avoidance and taking practical steps toward a more secure future. Jennifer explains why it’s never too late to start saving and planning—and why even small improvements can make a...

In this inspiring episode of Over 50 Shades of Great , Deborah Read is joined by Michelle Cameron Coulter — Olympic gold medalist, speaker, podcast host, mom of four, and a woman whose story is filled with courage, resilience, and possibility. Michelle shares how she went from being a little girl afraid of the water to winning Olympic gold for Canada in synchronized swimming at the 1988 Olympics....

What happens when a career change feels like grief? In this episode of Over 50 Shades of Great , Deborah talks with career grief coach and former entertainment executive Laverne McKinnon about job loss, burnout, career transition, professional heartbreak, and reinvention after 50. Laverne explains why leaving a job, being laid off, or changing industries can feel like losing part of your identity...

Dr. Trevor Cates joins Deborah for an eye-opening conversation about hormones, skin, perimenopause, menopause, and the real meaning of beauty after 50. Author of Natural Beauty Reset , Dr. Cates explains why skin can be an outer reflection of what’s happening inside the body — from thyroid and hormones to sugar, inflammation, gut health, and stress. Deborah and Dr. Cates also talk about bioidentic...

What if the key to transforming your life isn’t changing who you are—but remembering who you’ve always been? In this eye-opening episode of Over 50 Shades of Great , Deborah welcomes world-renowned Human Design experts Carola Eastwood and Chetan Parkyn for a conversation that challenges conventional ideas about identity, purpose, and personal growth. Together, they explore how Human Design can hel...

What happens when life completely falls apart—and you choose to build something beautiful anyway? In this episode of Over 50 Shades of Great , Deborah Read sits down with fan favorite Kathy Swarts from The Golden Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise for a candid conversation about grief, resilience, dating after loss, aging with confidence, and embracing life’s next chapter. Kathy shares the story be...

Finding God When You Don’t Know Where to Start with Brandy Mussman How do you build a relationship with God when you didn’t grow up with a clear spiritual path? In this heartfelt episode of Over 50 Shades of Great , Deborah sits down with longtime friend, mother, wellness advocate, and spiritual mentor Brandy Mussman for a powerful conversation about faith, prayer, motherhood, emotional healing, a...

Filmmaker Jill Campbell joins Deborah for a deeply moving conversation about her documentary Beyond the Gaze: Jule Campbell’s Swimsuit Issue . Jill shares the story of Jule Campbell, the groundbreaking woman behind the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and how she helped launch the supermodel era while navigating a male-dominated industry. This episode explores female legacy, creativity, document...

What does it really take to feel strong, energized, and confident after 50? In this episode, Deborah is joined by Viveca Jensen to talk about fitness over 50, menopause, strength training, Pilates, and hormone health for women. Viveca shares why building muscle is critical for women in midlife, how Pilates supports strength and flexibility, and what every woman should know about hormones, metaboli...

Julie LaPlaca has spent years producing love stories behind the scenes of The Bachelor franchise — but her most powerful story may be her own. In this heartfelt and funny conversation, Julie sits down with Deborah to talk about her new book, The Love Producer , her journey from reality TV producer to author, and what it really means to rewrite your own love story. Julie opens up about life inside...

In this inspiring episode of Over 50 Shades of Great , Deborah sits down with award-nominated producer Pam Williams for a powerful conversation about career, family, friendship, faith, and reinvention after 50. From producing major films like Lee Daniels’ The Butler and The Deliverance to co-founding Stand Up to Cancer , Pam has built an extraordinary career at the highest levels of Hollywood whil...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Deborah sits down with her longtime friend Kim Serafini for a moving conversation about resilience, recovery, and what happens when life takes you completely off course. Kim opens up about the shocking health crisis that changed everything — a series of near-death episodes that led to a cardiac pacemaker, years of uncertainty, and a profound rethinking...

In this wildly entertaining and surprisingly heartfelt episode, Deborah sits down with legendary Mother agent Eric Stern for a conversation about reinvention, authenticity, aging, and what it really means to own who you are. With his signature humor, sharp honesty, and larger-than-life personality, Eric shares how he made a massive midlife pivot from top fashion stylist to fiercely devoted mother...

Over 50 Shades of Great is a podcast and community for women over 40 and 50 navigating reinvention, relationships, purpose, and wellbeing in midlife and beyond. Hosted by longtime television producer and first-time mom at 53, Deborah Read, the show features honest conversations about aging, dating later in life, career pivots, motherhood on a different timeline, beauty, and vitality. Each episode...