Surfing the Quicksand

In this inspiring conversation, Kathy sits down with longtime friend and fellow Gen X minimalist, productivity coach, and full-time RVer, Aimee Olson, to explore what it really means to simplify your life, not as an aesthetic, but as a path to freedom. Aimee shares the unraveled middle-age moment that pushed her to reevaluate everything she was doing “because she had always done it,” leading her t...

In this episode, Kathy sits down with Dr. Katie Wadland, PT, DPT, a board-certified geriatric clinical specialist and founder of Healthy Aging Physical Therapy, a home-based PT/OT practice supporting older adults across Greater Boston. Katie shares how her team helps seniors stay safe, mobile, and independent by working with them right inside their own homes where real barriers, habits, and daily...

In this essential conversation, Kathy sits down with Kate Hufnagel, founder of The Digital Wrangler , to unravel the increasingly tangled world of digital and phone scams. From imposter calls and deepfake fraud to phishing emails and fake websites, Kate helps listeners understand how these scams work and what you can do to protect yourself and the people you love.  Drawing from both her tech backg...

This week, Kathy talks with productivity expert, leadership coach, and author Ellen Faye about what it really means to be productive, and why so many of us have been getting it wrong. They unpack the myths of “doing it all,” the shifting expectations of leadership, and how midlife can be a turning point for redefining success and satisfaction.  Ellen shares wisdom from her work helping professiona...

In this deeply informative and empowering conversation, Kathy Vines sits down with Functional Health Practitioner and owner of Nutrition & Whole Health Solutions, Sarah Tugender, to unpack the myths, misinformation, and mindset shifts surrounding perimenopause and menopause. Sarah shares her professional insight into how women can better understand the physical, emotional, and cultural aspects...

“Meno-divorce,” divorces and separations initiated by women during perimenopause and menopause, are on the rise. Divorce is often painted as failure, conflict, or shame. But what if it could be something else: a process rooted in dignity, communication, and even hope for the future?  In this episode of Surfing the Quicksand , attorney Rebecca Neale joins Kathy to explore what it means to navigate...

In this thoughtful and tender conversation, Kathy sits down with Sonya Fehér, a life coach who helps midlife women navigate transitions in identity, purpose, and relationships. Together they unpack what happens when the roles we’ve lived by begin to shift or fade, and how we can reimagine who we are when the script changes.  Sonya shares deeply personal reflections on divorce, single parenting, ca...

In this episode of Surfing the Quicksand, host Kathy Vines takes us through her own journey of learning more about productivity as a framework for getting things done, and how it shaped her work with others long before she became a Certified Professional Organizer ® and a Productivity Coach. She shares more about her foundational language she shares with others when she’s supporting their goal of...

When entrepreneur Abbie Romanul decided to quit drinking eight years ago, she wasn’t just changing a habit; she was reshaping her life. In this inspiring conversation, Abbie shares how her personal decision to stop drinking became the spark behind Raising the Bar, the first and only zero-proof cocktail subscription box in the U.S.  Host Kathy Vines talks with Abbie about what it means to navigate...

In this episode, Kathy talks with fitness coach Nicole Wade about how midlife women can evolve their approach to exercise, wellness, and self-belief. Nicole shares her deep experience and insights on creating age-appropriate strength programs that support bone health, balance, and overall vitality. She emphasizes the power of aligning your actions with your goals, challenging negative self-talk, a...

Episode Description: When technology is overwhelming for our parents (or even for us),patience, empathy, and the right kind of support can make all the difference. In this episode of Surfing the Quicksand, Kathy Vines sits down with Kristin Thorp, founder and Executive Director of SDM Foundation501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on teaching how to use technology, to explore how her team empowers older ad...

Episode Description: The “Midlife Leap” series introduces women who have made big professional shifts in midlife. Their stories inspire new ways of thinking about what is possible in this stage of life! In this episode, Sara Skillen shares her inspiring journey from exploring her own inner purpose to stepping in to own and lead the Coach Approach Training Institute (CATI). Sara talks about how spi...

In this solo episode of Surfing the Quicksand, host Kathy Vines pulls back the curtain on her career coaching and résumé writing practice, sharing how her work with Gen X and Elder Millennial clients has shaped her perspective on helping clients get unstuck. With over20 years in HR and more than a decade coaching midlife professionals, Kathy highlights the common career crossroads women face in th...

Parenting today’s tweens and teens is no small task, especially when executive function challenges, ADHD, and anxiety are in the mix. In this episode of Surfing the Quicksand, Kathy sits down with Leslie Josel, award-winning academic and parenting coach, to explore how parents can move from frustration and helplessness to practical tools that actually support their kids. Leslie shares how the land...

Episode Summary What’s really behind the piles, the closets full of “someday” items, or the boxes of gifts we don’t love but still keep? Professional organizer and coach Kathy Vines, Certified Professional Organizer®and host of Surfing the Quicksand shares the framework she uses with clients, book readers, and her Clever Girl Organizing Challenge community: looking at your stuff, systems, and habi...

Episode Summary Welcome to the very first episode of Surfing the Quicksand! In this introduction, host Kathy Vines shares the story behind the podcast, why she started it, who it’s for, and the kinds of conversations you can expect. Kathy opens up about her own journey: shifting from 20 years in Human Resources to building her businesses in professional organizing, productivity, and career coachin...

After years of hearing, "Kathy, would you EVER do a podcast?" I finally knew that what I wanted to talk about was helping midlife women (think: GenX and Older Millennials) get unstuck. At home. At work. In relationships. In health. In all those "defined by others" identities - mom, wife, daughter, caregiver. With my new podcast, "Surfing the Quicksand," I'm trying...