The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m joined by Josie Faass, an Enneagram Type One.  In today’s episode, we talk about the Core Motivations for an Enneagram One.  Enneagram Ones have a very strong inner critic, which is a unique trait of Ones.  While we all might have an inner critic, Ones have the most strong inner critic of all of the Enneagram types. We also discuss the stress and g...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I share an overview of the Enneagram. Have you ever found something that works so well for you that you want to share it with everyone you meet?  The Enneagram has been that for me and I’m excited to share this season of the podcast with you.  Per Beth McCord, “The Enneagram reveals why you think, feel, and behave in particular ways, so you can steer y...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m sharing how I set intentions for the New Year. Whether you call them intentions, goals, resolutions or something else, consider a few areas of focus for your life this year. I reflect back on the previous year, what worked and what didn’t work, what I learned and what and who I’m grateful for.  Next, I evaluate how I’m doing right now in various ar...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Sarah Watson. Sarah is a fan of chocolate, traveling and cartwheels in the grass. She is the Creator of Calm at The Restoration Project. She believes your time, energy, heart and brain space are precious and must be protected. Sarah is dedicated to assisting others create calm in their every day --- because calm leads to changes that...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Meredith Van Ness. Meredith is a Licensed Psychotherapist (LCSW), Life Coach, and Sleep Behavior Specialist with over 20 years of experience. She founded Balanced + Well Counseling & Coaching and Meredith Van Ness Therapy and Consulting to help women ditch self-doubt, create space for self-compassion, and step into confidence. Her...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m reflecting on my first year of podcasting. In this episode I reflect on my first year as a podcaster.  It’s hard to believe I’m approaching one year of The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast! I am so thankful for everyone who listens and to all of the guests that I’ve been honored to speak with over the past year. If you haven't listened to previous epis...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Dawn Sparling. Dawn is the proud mother of two children and is a highly accomplished Human Resources professional with over 20 years of experience in Compliance, Employee Relations, and Global Mobility. In this episode Dawn shares how in April 2023, she embarked on a transformative journey as she paused her full-time corporate career...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Jai Westgard. Jai is a holistic healer who supports women to restore health while experiencing trauma, transitions and transformations.  She is a reiki master/teacher, akashic reader, and a somatic experiencing practitioner -intermediate student. In this episode we discussed how Jai is navigating a challenging personal situation, whil...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Jodi Stepanek. Jodi is a wife, a mom to two teenage daughters and a certified meditation and mindfulness instructor. She founded Big Heart Meditation and Mindfulness in January 2021 and has been on the peace train ever since!  In this episode Jodi shares how the benefits of meditation and other practices have changed her life and led...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Jill Wojciechowski. Jill is a wife, aunt to four nephews and dog mom and owns JKW Photography.  Prior to starting her business Jill spent two decades in Corporate Communications at Collins Aerospace (formally Rockwell Collins). In this episode Jill shares how after a lengthy corporate career, she was laid off and decided to start her...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Jenny Chadima. Jenny is a trained spiritual director and retreat facilitator, as well as the director of development for Mission of Hope, a Christ-centered ministry providing emergency relief, restoration and development services in the Cedar Rapids area. In this episode Jenny shares how discernment and listening to God’s voice, led h...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Gretta Nance. Gretta is a 46 year old with 20+ years in the plastic surgery field educating women navigating this often emotional world. But it's become much more than a career to her, it’s a passion to help women live big, bold lives. She's passionate about personal growth and mental health - especially now that she's currently navig...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Nancy Lynk. Nancy is a mother to two daughters, a sister, aunt and friend to many; She is an experienced finance professional who is willing to share her lived experience with those who are ready to learn.   In this episode Nancy shares how she has developed resilience throughout her career and how she has created space in her life fo...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Lindsay Leahy. Lindsay is a proud wife, daughter, auntie, and friend. She is passionate about Jesus, hugs, dreams, adventures, and writing. She is the author of the blog Grit, Gratitude, and Grace and founder of The Restoration Project.  Lindsay's personal adversity story, coupled with her leadership and business strategy experience,...

I am so excited to share that Season Five of The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast will launch November 4th with all new episodes.  In this season you’ll meet eight incredible women who are doing new things, encouraging others, changing, growing and transforming.  They are sharing their stories of writing books, starting new businesses, living out their purpose and calling and so much more!  You will b...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Gayle Richardson. Gayle was married to her husband Mike for 37 years and is a mother to three grown children and has seven grandchildren. In this episode Gayle shares her caregiving journey with her husband, who passed away after a courageous battle with ALS.   She provides insights on what she learned  in terms of insurance, care pro...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Susie Winkowski.   Susie is a wife, a mother to two grown children and has four grandchildren.  She has been caring for her husband for the past ten years after his diagnosis of dementia.  In this episode Susie talks about advocating for loved ones with dementia, how they can continue to be part of our communities and how important it...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Tracy Berta. Tracy was a guest of the podcast in Season Two, episode six.  She is a wife, mom to five children and has two grandchildren. In this episode Tracy discusses her caregiving journey with her parents, who have since passed away.  Tracy commuted frequently to provide care to her parents who lived in Illinois.   In this episod...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Tom Brennom. Tom and his wife Pat have been married for 57 years, have two grown children and four grandchildren.  He has served as a community volunteer since retiring from his engineering career.   Tom cares for his wife, who has dementia.  In this episode Tom shares caregiving from a husband’s perspective and how he has found fello...

This week I’m speaking with Alice Murray.   Alice is a Pastor of Care and Hospitality at Faith Life Church. She has a heart for connecting with people and to come alongside them in seasons of both need and celebration. She has been married to Erik, her highschool sweetheart, for 25 years and has been blessed with two amazing children. In this episode Alice shares her family caregiving journey as s...

This week I’m speaking with Shelly Halverson, creator of a Lifetime Gift.   Shelly has been married to her husband for almost 43 years and mother to two adult boys, who are both married and she “Meme” to four (about to be five) grandchildren under the age of 5! In this episode Shelly shares why she created A Lifetime Gift, a living document that reflects a checklist, important documents, final wis...

This week Kathy Good, who serves as the Senior Director of the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging and Dementia, is joining me for part four of our conversation on caregiving. If you haven’t listened to the first three episodes in the series, I would encourage you to go back and check those out. In this episode Kathy and I discuss specific situations that arise in caregiving i...

This week Kathy Good, who serves as the Senior Director of the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging and Dementia, is joining me for part three of our conversation on caregiving. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes in the series, I would encourage you to go back and check those out. In this episode Kathy and I discuss how caregivers can take care of themselves whil...

This week Kathy Good, who serves as the Senior Director of the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging and Dementia, is back on the podcast. If you haven’t listened to the first episode in the series that was released last week, I would encourage you to go back and listen. In this episode we discuss more about caregiving and share some statistics on caregiving and its impact on th...

This week I’m speaking with Kathy Good, Senior Director of the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Family Innovation Center for Aging and Dementia.  Kathy is a social worker by trade, but was instrumental in the creation and development of the Family Caregivers Center and the Family Innovation Center.  She was the primary caregiver for her husband Dave beginning in 2003, when he was diagnosed with the visual va...