The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast

Thank you for joining me on the journey that is The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast! I truly appreciate everyone who listens and your support means the world to me.   I am so excited to share that Season Four of The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast will launch August 19th with all new episodes. We are focusing this season on family caregiving for aging adults. For those of us in middle age we either have...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  We’re wrapping up the I’m Turning 50 Series with Rina Jensen. Rina is a mental fitness, resilience and informed psychedelic coach.  She also co-owns You Conferences, a business conference for women small business owners.  In this episode we talk about Rina’s 50 Before 50 List and how it helped her recognize her priorities and let go of certain exp...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  This week I’m happy to welcome back Pam Schulz. Pam was on season one episode 13 of the podcast. She is the wife of a high school social studies teacher and a mother to two sons who are young adults. Pam is currently serving as the Executive Director of Faith Life Church and previously worked in public education for 20 years as a music teacher and...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  This week I’m speaking with Deb Sternhagen. Deb is a wife, mom, an Oma to eight grandchildren and she is turning 50 this year!  We speak about how this milestone birthday is impacting her role as mother to her four children and how this next decade might look different for her.  Deb shared how she’s looking forward to traveling more, and watching...

In July we are celebrating turning 50 on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast! I’m celebrating this milestone birthday this month and today I have a very special guest interviewer asking me questions about how I feel about turning 50.  In this episode I share what is joyful about being in midlife and what is challenging. I believe aging is a privilege and each day is a gift. Turning 50 is a big milest...

Thank you for joining me on the journey that has been Season Two of The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  I’m so glad you are part of this community of people navigating the middle stage of life.  My hope is that we continue to learn from each other as we share our experiences.  This past season I was blessed to have amazing guests join me to discuss many meaningful topics such as health and wellbein...

This week I’m speaking with Lucia Maya. Lucia is a mother to two daughters, an artist, a reiki master and intuitive counselor. Eleven years ago Lucia’s daughter Elizabeth passed away from cancer and today we speak about Elizabeth’s life, her passing and Lucia’s journey through grief.  Lucia shares how she processed through the grief she felt during Elizabeth’s illness and after she passed away.  S...

This week I’m excited to have Megan Knatz back on the podcast.  Megan is a busy mom, wife, business owner and entrepreneur, and she also happens to be my sister and best friend! Megan was a guest in season one, episodes two and three, so be sure to listen to those if you haven’t already. In this week’s episode we talk about transitioning older children from high school to their post high school pl...

This week I’m excited to have Stephanie Neighbor Kubik back on the podcast.  Stephanie is the owner of Vella Yoga in Marion, a floral company, Ellabank Blossoms and is a health coach. Stephanie was on season one, episode seven, of the podcast to share general health tips for those of us in middle age. On this week’s episode Stephanie shares straightforward information and guidance to help us manag...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Tina Wing.   Tina is a wife, mom, real estate agent, artist and makeup artist who has been on a journey with her health.  After experiencing some symptoms, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease and decided to make some big changes related to her health. In this episode Tina and I talk about how her weight loss has impacted her li...

This week on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast I’m speaking with Tracy Berta. Tracy is a speaker, mentor, writer, bible teacher, wife, and mom, but she is first and foremost God's Beloved daughter & Jesus lover! Tracy is loving this next season of life pursuing her dreams and cheering on (& partnering with) her husband Brian as they try their hand at all of the crazy aspirations they ha...

I was a guest recently on the Anne and Ellis Podcast and discussed all things 80’s music with Riley Mullane. I wanted to share this episode on The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast since some of those in middle age are big 80’s music fans.  Riley has been a wedding and event DJ for nearly 20 years and is the co-host of the Anne and Ellis Podcast. This week we talk about why the 80’s is the best musical...

My guest this week is Carrie Brown Benn.  Carrie is a family nurse practitioner and has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Masters of Science in Nursing, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, and a Post graduate certification in Dermatology.  She has been in practice for 17 years and has started to focus more on practices to improve women's health and quality of life, especially in mid life. Carrie a...

Welcome back to The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast! My guest this week is Brooke Auchincloss. Brooke is a retired photographer and art director and is now a raku artist.  She’s lived all over the world, including South Africa and London and currently resides on Maui with her youngest daughter who is 13. I met Brooke through an online support community of mother’s with neurodivergent children called...

Welcome back to The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast! My guest this week is Jamie Klusacek. Jamie is an author of five books, podcast host, a speaker and friend who lives in Colorado with her amazing husband and four daughters. Her primary passion is to love God and love people— to walk courageously obedient with Jesus and help others do the same.  In this episode Jamie and I talk about how she has fa...

My guests this week are Kristen Marion-Hendryx and Travis Hempstead. Travis and Kristen are parents navigating life together after losing their spouses. In this episode they share how they met and about their lives now.  Towards the end of the podcast we also discuss the Enneagram and how it has helped Travis and Kristen learn more about themselves and each other. Please note we discuss the loss o...

Thank you for joining me on the journey that was Season One of The Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  This season we shared about family, career transitions, relationships, parenting, grief, mental and physical wellbeing and so much more.   I’m so glad you are part of this community of people navigating the middle stage of life.  My hope is that we continue to learn from each other as we share our exp...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  This week I’m speaking with Pam Schulz. Pam is the wife of a high school social studies teacher and mother to two neurodivergent teenage boys. She is currently serving as the Executive Director of St. Mark's Lutheran Church and previously worked in public education for 20 years as a music teacher and school administrator. Pam is on the Executi...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  This week I’m speaking with Jane Schildroth. Jane is a mother, grandmother, and a life-long educator, having retired in 2014 from The University of Iowa. Her husband died of cancer in 2018 and after her recent downsizing experience, she considers herself “Jane 5.0,” a new operating system. I had the privilege to work with Jane at The University of...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  This week I’m speaking with Michele Jones.   Michele is a wife, mom, dog mom, learner, business owner, football fan, and a follower of Jesus.  After being a stay at home mom for 20 years, she found herself as a business owner and then received the call to go into ministry full time. She is pursuing her Masters in Divinity and will be graduating in...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  This week I’m speaking with Josie Faass. Josie is a mom of two, runs a nonprofit, and has always had a passion for writing.   I met Josie last year through Mother’s Together, a support community for moms of neurodivergent children. Today we talk about the unexpected parenting journey we are on and how important support is for parents of older chil...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  On this week’s episode I’m speaking with Candice Fraser.  Candice is a wife of 18 years, a mother to 2 very active boys and a licensed professional counselor with a private counseling practice in Texas.  The focus of her practice is supporting clients through relationship struggles, managing emotions related to depression and anxiety, and finding...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  Today I’m talking with Melinda Brokaw.  Melinda and I went to elementary, junior high and high school together - shout out to the Monticello High School Class of 1992, Go Panthers!  Melinda is a mama, friend, lifelong learner, a self improvement and empowerment seeker, volunteer, music and dance lover and DIY home improvement fanatic.  By day, she...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  Did you know that by the end of January nearly 43% of people who set New Year's resolutions have already stopped making progress?   If you would like to learn some practical steps you can take towards better health in the new year you are in for a treat.  Today I’m speaking with Stephanie Neighbor Kubik.  Stephanie is a "pre-tired" b...

Welcome back to the Marvelous Middle Age Podcast!  In this week’s episode I’m chatting with Jacki Tentinger, who has been a cosmetologist for 26 years, a mom for 22 and is the owner of Epic Salon.  I’ve been going to Jacki for years and she is the ONLY person I will let touch my hair.   Today we talk about how to break up with your stylist - I’ve heard it’s harder than a relationship break up!  Ho...