The Roller Coaster of Midlife

I first heard of the Camino Santiago in the movie The Way, which shares the story of a father who travels to France to retrieve the body of his estranged son, who died while attempting the pilgrimage to the Camino. While there he decides to take the journey, to learn more about himself and to gain insight into who his son was. Martin Sheen played the role of the father, and the son, was his son Em...

As moms we seem to be constantly searching for balance, but are we searching for the unattainable or is it work/life balance achievable? But here’s the question, who’s definition of balance are we seeking and what does it look like? I was raised by a stay-at-home mom and the only role models that shaped my perception were the moms portrayed in the 80s sitcoms. And let’s face it, even though TV is...

Joan Crawford said “Find your own style and have the courage to stick to it” but that’s easier said than done. As moms, our bodies have been through a lot, and for many of us, our bodies look drastically different than they did 20 years ago. I know for me, I can be self-conscious about my bat wings and buddha belly. Who isn’t? Besides, discovering our own personal style can be challenging when “so...

I hadn’t considered it before, but setting healthy boundaries is an element of self-care because it involves putting ourselves, and our needs, first. Think about it, when we don’t have healthy boundaries we end up feeling taken for granted or advantage of, and like everyone is walking all over us. I’ll admit, that setting boundaries is easier said than done. And setting that first boundary can be...

More and more, I feel like society is putting too much value on material things. Add to that, every time we turn around someone is telling us that we are not enough, the advertising industry is based on playing mental games with us. We’re constantly bombarded with negative messages, we’re told that “things” are what make us happy. Is it any wonder that we’re living through a mental health epidemic...

Have you ever asked yourself if you're happy? Have you been ticking all of the boxes for a "happy and successful life" only to feel like maybe there's something more in this life for you?  Joining me today is Kara Bitar who followed her dreams of becoming an influential lawyer and checked many of those boxes, only to realize that happiness had escaped her. Kara got curious, digging down to underst...

This wasn't the episode that I had originally planned but a Facebook post inspired me to share another message. My friend shared a post about her struggles with weight loss, a story that many of us can relate to. In this episode, I share a different perspective on how we approach our health and our bodies.  Get your FREE Empowered Midlife Mom Journal at www.therollercoasterpodcast.com/midlifemomjo...

 Do you feel ripped off? You know what I mean, the kids are older and you have more alone time with your partner. Just when you think that you might regain that sexual energy that was tempered with motherhood, BOOM, your hormones start to shift and the effects of menopause start to creep in. This is a sizzly conversation that we’re having today because joining me is Liz Dube, a certified sex thera...

I don’t think that I’ll ever forget the feeling of being stuck but at the time I couldn’t even find the words to describe what I was feeling. I remember feeling like I was completely alone and that is why I started The Roller Coaster and created The Journaling Formula. Along the way, I’ve been able to connect with so many women that have felt exactly like I did. Today’s guest, Michelle Woods of Wo...

I feel that over the past few decades, stress seems to be an accolade, a right of passage to success and a measure of self-worth. Today's guest, Phil Barth, had a bit of a wake-up call when he experienced a heart attack and his doctor attributed it to stress. Not that I want to start a debate on who has more stress, us moms or our husbands/partners, but studies have shown that women are more prone...

For me, meditation, gratitude and journaling are the trifectas for success, many highly successful people share their importance. But there’s also a lot of confusion around these topics and today we’re going to tackle mediation and gratitude. Joining me today is Lori Saitz of the Zen Rabbit , and we chat about what meditation is and isn't, myths and misconceptions and how to make it all "work" for...

Think back to when you were a teen, what did you think about people in their 40s, 50s and 60s? I know that I used to think that was OLD. Now that I'm on the upswing my views on aging are much different, but then again, I'm still not sure how it is that we have adult children. It's a confusing time as we try to find our footing as mothers. One thing is for sure, women today are redefining aging and...

A whopping 50 to 60% of people that set new year’s resolutions set intentions around weight loss and exercise, my self-included. BUT we make the same resolutions year over year, which basically means that we set them and never achieve them. Again myself included. What I’ve come to learn is that breaking bad habits and creating new ones, is more than just saying you’re going to do something, it req...

Typically, when we hear the word success , things like money, fame and status come to mind. But at the root of things, success can only be defined us as individuals. Joining me today is Rob Cook, host of the Contenders Wanted podcast and a CPA financial advisor to chat about meaningful success, legacy and financial freedom. Connect with Rob www.contenderswanted.com and on LinkedIn @contenderswante...

Imagine being arrested in a foreign country, subject to their judicial system, their rules, their treatment. I could say without a doubt, I’d be scared shitless. Joining me today is Chancellor Jackson, who in 2019 spent 14 Days in a Beijing jail, he’s shared his compelling story in his book, 14 Days in Beijing. Connect with Chancellor at www.chancellorkjackson.com and on Instagram https://www.inst...

The effects of sexual abuse can leave a seemingly never-ending impact on your life. The trauma, feelings of shame, guilt, and lack of self-worth can limit your relationships, stop you from speaking your truth and cut you off from living your best life. With help, the suffering can end. Joining me today is Gina Rolkowski, a Trauma Healing Coach, to share her story of trauma to healing. Connect with...

Ok, ladies, I had my eyes opened by taking a quiz, Money Personality Quiz, found on the website of today’s guest. Before we get to that, did you know: 50% of women fear they won’t have enough money in retirement, women are 80% more likely to be in poverty in retirement than men and over half of all employed women worldwide are in “vulnerable employment”—aka employment with low pay, low benefits or...

From the time boys are little, they’re conditioned by society that they have to be brave and strong, that they are the providers and protectors of their wives, girlfriends and partners. Yet as women we want them to also be soft and nurturing, and to talk about their feelings. Brene Brown is the expert on vulnerability and talks extensively on the subject, yet society still hasn’t given men the spa...

Passion, people are searching for it like Indiana Jones on a quest to discover a long-lost artifact but is it something that we can just “find”? Joining me today is Karen Putz, known as The Passion Mentor and author of Unwrapping Your Passion, to share how you can unwrap your passions at any age. Karen is deaf and she’s using a special app for captioning. Connect with Karen at http://www.agelesspa...

When you were younger, maybe you imagine yourself riding on horseback through the wilderness, exploring places far and wide, climbing mountains or taking in the beauty of an exotic beach. Did you dream of an adventurous life and then somewhere along the line, you were told to grow up and live in the real world? Let me ask you this, who said that we can’t live the adventurous life of our dreams? Jo...

Are your eyes open to all of the possibilities that are available to you? Your dreams, your goals are more than wishful thinking, but we can often let our fears overshadow what we really want out of life. Joining me today is Andrea Johnson, a coach certified by the John Maxwell Team to share her philosophy of Intentional Optimism. Connect with Andrea at https://www.theintentionaloptimist.com/ , on...

Sometimes our darkest moments give us our greatest gifts, often, we can’t see that at the time. It’s only after we’ve grown or started a new chapter that we can realize the beauty that was hidden inside. Joining me today is Joseph Holmes, author of The Power of Angels and a spiritual warrior to share how he turned his dark night of the soul around. Connect with Joseph at jmmlove.com , on Facebook...

Bereavement, isolation, loss of income and fear are global pandemic side-effects that are acting like accelerants being poured on an already fragile mental health crisis. Many people are facing increased levels of alcohol and drug use, insomnia, and anxiety. Today is a chosen day by a major corporation in Canada to focus on mental health. Honestly, at this point, things like this leave me feeling...

Time management, sometimes I think that it’s a joke, a myth or even fantasy. Sure, we all start our days with the best of intentions BUT shit always happens! And when you’re in the thick of it all you can do is roll with the punches. Joining me today is Fred Moore, a professional speaker and entertainer who has been wowing audiences around the world for over 25 years. Fred is here to share his wis...

I always find it inspiring to connect with women who have created a business because they had been trying to solve a problem. Also, women-led businesses tends to be more purpose-driven, have access to childcare and more likely to offer better pay. Joining me today is Chelle Murphy, an entrepreneur, homeschooling mom, ex-pat, and passionate advocate for mental health and opportunities for women. Ch...