Over 50 Shades of Great: The Podcast

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...