Her Next Act ~ Right Here, Right Now

What happens when you follow a middle-of-the-night idea and trust yourself enough to see where it leads? In this episode of Her Next Act, Joan sits down with Stephanie Wilson, founder of 31 Daily, cookbook author, former broadcast journalist, private chef, and storyteller, to discuss creativity, reinvention, and building a fulfilling life in midlife and beyond. Ten years ago, Stephanie launched 31...

In this special solo episode of Her Next Act, Joan shares a brief personal update and takes listeners behind the scenes of a milestone that has been generations in the making. While Her Next Act typically features inspiring conversations with women navigating reinvention, purpose, and new beginnings, this week Joan is stepping away from her regular interview format to focus on an extraordinary fam...

In this episode of HER NEXT ACT ~ Right Here, Right Now , host Joan Paul is in conversation with cognitive psychologist Dr. Alicia Farrell for a second time on the podcast. In this episode they share personal stories of loss and resilience, setting the stage for insightful discussions. They explore how various types of loss, from identity and purpose to the death of loved ones, affect our lives an...

In this episode of Her Next Act, Joan Paul sits down with award-winning playwright, author, and lyricist Robin Pullen to explore how curiosity, creativity, and collaboration can fuel a thriving second act well into your 60s and beyond. If you've ever quietly held onto a childhood dream, or wondered whether it's too late, this conversation will encourage you to start. This episode is a be...

In conversation with Lindsey Goldstein, author of Gap Year  In this episode of Her Next Act, Joan Paul sits down with author Lindsey Goldstein to explore what it really means to start over in midlife. If you’ve ever wondered who you are beyond the roles you’ve held, mother, partner, professional this conversation will resonate deeply. Lindsey shares the story behind her debut novel Gap Year, a pow...

What if the life you’re trying to create starts with the space you’re living in? In this episode of Her Next Act, Joan sits down with Kim Costa, realtor, author, and creator of the Wheel House™ method, to explore how our homes shape not only how we live, but who we become. Kim’s journey is a powerful example of what it looks like to realign your life from the inside out. From working decades in a...

What if one decision could open the door to an entirely new life? In this episode of Her Next Act , Joan sits down with Eliza Clark, creative director, entrepreneur, and co-owner of the stunning Foxfire Mountain House and Lost Fox Inn. Eliza’s story is a powerful reminder that reinvention doesn’t require certainty it requires attention, courage, and a willingness to say yes to possibility. From he...

In this episode of HER NEXT ACT ~ Right Here, Right Now, host Joan Paul speaks with Tracey Willis Gates, author and Life and Wellness Coach, about her journey of self-discovery and the transformative power of kind words.  Tracey details how she transitioned into becoming a Life Coach in her fifties and how this led her to embark on a year-long journey of writing letters of appreciation for 365 con...

Joan Paul sits down with author, radio host, speaker, performer, and podcast creator Randye Kaye for a conversation about creativity, resilience, and reinventing yourself at every stage of life. Randye shares her multi-decade journey from folk singer and actor to radio personality, author, advocate, and podcaster, proving that it’s never too late to explore new ideas, pivot careers, or pursue mean...

In this episode of Her Next Act, host Joan Paul sits down with Dr. Karin Drescher, a longtime anesthesiologist and educator, to explore what it looks like to evolve a calling after decades in medicine without walking away from it entirely. After more than 35 years practicing anesthesiology in an academic medical center, Dr. Drescher began asking deeper questions about health, longevity, and what t...

In this episode of Her Next Act, Joan Paul sits down with Kim Thomas, founder of New England Coastal Creative, to explore what it truly means to embrace creativity in midlife and use it as a force for connection, confidence, and community. Kim’s next act emerged from lived experience, career pivots, creative risk-taking, and a deep desire to build the kind of community she once needed herself. Wha...

In this episode of Her Next Act, host Joan Paul closes out Season One with gratitude, reflection, and a deep sense of fulfillment. Sitting on Amelia Island, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean the same place she launched this podcast one year ago Joan celebrates the full-circle moment of completing 27 episodes and a year-long commitment to sharing stories of courage, reinvention, and possibility. Joan...

In this inspiring episode of Her Next Act , host Joan Paul sits down with Monya Elgart, an optometrist turned visionary land steward who is courageously redefining what life can look like after fifty.  Following a Gray Divorce, Monya chose to reinvent rather than retreat; purchasing an 85-acre farm and transforming it into Durham Equestrian, a poetic sanctuary for horses, humans, and healing. Joan...

Do you relate to Lydia as a seeker, always reaching for the highest expression of herself? Follow the show so you don't miss an inspiring conversation with women continuing to create their next act, committed to growth. Your follow will also help other women discover the show.  Follow the show on Apple podcasts . In this week’s episode of Her Next Act, host Joan Paul welcomes Lydia Dean, huma...

In this heartfelt episode of Her Next Act , host Joan Paul reflects on her recent return from co-hosting a women’s retreat in the south of France with her cousin, Jenn Wolcott of Local Rendezvous Travel. What unfolded over those days was more than travel, food, and breathtaking views it was a profound reminder of the power of community, courage, and shared experience in navigating life’s transitio...

In this solo episode of Her Next Act , host Joan Paul reflects on the seasons of change we all experience whether it’s children leaving home, shifting careers, aging, or simply moving through life’s natural cycles and how these transitions, while often uncomfortable, can become powerful invitations to growth. Drawing from her own journey as a woman in her sixties, Joan shares how she’s learned to...

How one woman found her next act in her 50s, guiding people through healing and life transitions with the wisdom of horses. In this inspiring episode of Her Next Act , host Joan Paul sits down with Patty Ganey, co-founder of The Next Step in Lyme, Connecticut, to explore how horses help us reconnect with authenticity, release old stories, and embrace the power of being fully present. Patty shares...

How one woman turned her passion for health into a mission-driven business after 50. In this inspiring episode of Her Next Act, host Joan Paul sits down with change-maker, entrepreneur, and health advocate Gwyn Whittaker. After a 35-year career in the tech industry including founding a counter-terrorism company after 9/11  Gwyn experienced a devastating personal loss that became the catalyst for h...

Enjoyed this conversation with Moya? Follow Her Next Act on Apple Podcasts so you won’t miss any episodes that inspire action and reflection. Follow on Apple Podcasts . In this heart-opening episode, I sit down with visual artist and author Moya Aiken to explore what it means to live a creative, meaningful life especially as we age. From growing up in an Irish family in a tough English housing pro...

Enjoying this conversation? Tap here to follow Her Next Act on Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Your follow helps more women discover these empowering stories! Follow on Apple Podcasts . In this episode of Her Next Act , host Joan Paul sits down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Bostwick for a conversation about finding the courage to pursue one's dreams,...

Loving Sue’s story? Follow Her Next Act on Apple Podcasts to stay connected with more conversations that inspire your next act! Follow on Apple Podcasts . In this inspiring episode, host Joan Paul is joined by Sue Skelly founder of Women Who Walk the World and a passionate guide for women seeking personal transformation through travel and adventure. Sue’s next act began with a spark that was plant...

In this empowering episode, host Joan Paul is joined by Allison Carmen – author, mindset coach, and host of the podcast 10 Minutes to Less Suffering. Allison shares how her next act began with a subtle yet life-changing shift in mindset. From being addicted to certainty to embracing the powerful possibilities of maybe.  As a high-achieving attorney, Allison spent years gripped by anxiety and the f...

In this inspiring episode host Joan Paul is joined by Denise Gordon - entrepreneur and co-host of the Skiptown All-Stars Travel Podcast (name change to I Could Live Here .)  As a new empty-nester, Denise launched her next act when she and her husband James embarked on a nomadic adventure across America in search of their "forever home". They sold nearly everything they owned, left their...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, host Joan Paul is joined by Tracy Tighe Johnston, cancer survivor, community leader, and founder of Tighed Together, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting families navigating trauma. Tracy opens up about her deeply personal journey through illness, healing, and how she transformed pain into purpose by building a trauma-informed organization rooted in play, pre...

In this inspiring and personal episode, Joan is in conversation with Kristine Ochu, author, speaker, resilience coach, and “Modern-Day LumberJill”. While fully immersed in competitive log rolling in her youth, she discovered the power of positive psychology which would be a springboard to what she is doing today. Kristine shares her incredible story from growing up in a community where the World L...