Alright, ladies, buckle up because today’s guest is about to rock your world! If you’ve ever found yourself hustling for success, grinding yourself into the ground, or feeling like manifestation is some fluffy, wishful thinking that never quite works for you—THINK AGAIN.

We are about to dive deep into the kind of transformation that doesn’t just shift your mindset—it shakes up your entire damn reality.

Meet Jaime Pallotolo—a powerhouse Energetic Master, Soul Activator, and Shamanic Healer who helps badass women step into their power and manifest their wildest dreams. We’re talking six-figure months, viral TED Talks, NYT bestsellers, national TV appearances, soul-aligned love, pregnancies, and next-level success. And guess what? She doesn’t do it through overworking, overthinking, or over-sacrificing. Nope. Jaime teaches women how to manifest from a place of ease, pleasure, and energetic alignment—because let’s be real, the hustle culture is played out, and wealth should feel GOOD, not like a punishment.

Jaime’s story is one of resilience, rebirth, and radical transformation—she’s walked away from corporate burnout, survived an abusive marriage, and quite literally came back from her own deathbed. And now? She’s helping women release their own blocks, connect with Spirit, and create realities beyond their wildest dreams.

So if you’re ready to stop playing small, let go of the baggage that’s been holding you back, and start calling in the kind of abundance that makes your soul do a happy dance… THIS is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

In this episode Jaime teaches us:

1. you need to learn to sit with yourself! It takes 90 seconds for your conscious mind to come into subconscious and for your nervous system to rewire and regulate. But, it is difficult to get to this place in our current "hustle" culture in which we never slow down!
2. In order to be able to disrupt patterns of perception, belief and thought, we have to get into the body and experience something different.
3. Trauma comes in all sizes and shapes. We often believe that trauma only include the BIG events that happen, a death of a loved one, abuse, our own near death experience. However, trauma can be something as small as a look or getting lost in a store as a child. These can be traumatic experiences as well and trigger a bodily reaction that you are not safe.
4. You have to allow the emotions to move through your body. When you experience a loss, a scare, a trauma of any kind...take 48 hours to really feel those emotions...scream, cry, pound your pillow, be in your woundedness and then establish a boundary to rise above the emotions. You cannot continue to allow your emotions to rule your life.
5. We can truly manifest anything. However, oftentimes our own attachments or mental blocks to what it is we're trying to manifest impose limitations on what we will manifest. We HAVE to approach manifestation with an open heart and open mind.

For more of Jaime:

Website | jaimepallotolo.com

Instagram | @jaimepallotolo

If you've been a long time supporter of the Dear Midlife podcast, we'd love to thank you! It has been a 3-year journey and we couldn't have had the success that we have without your support. We love you but, we're taking. a break to regroup and realign. If you interested in continuing to be part of the conversation, you can email me at dearmidlife@gmail.com or find us on Instagram or

Ladies, buckle up because today’s guest is bringing the truth bombs you need to hear! Our guest, Lori Balue is not here to sugarcoat anything—literally. You know...with 88% of the population being insulin resistant, it’s no wonder we’re in the middle of an obesity epidemic, and Lori is on a mission to help women over 50 take back control of their health, their bodies, and their future.

Lori is a Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner and Adapt-Certified Functional Health Coach, and she’s all about ditching the BS diets, fixing your gut, and making sure you don’t spend your golden years feeling sluggish, inflamed, and stuck in stretchy pants. She’s the creator of The Holistic Low Carb Method and Weight Loss & Diabetes Solution, designed specifically for women who are sick of the endless cycle of dieting, weight regain, and health struggles.

Lori isn’t just talking the talk—she lost 100 pounds herself, and she’s keeping it off in her 50s. She knows firsthand what it takes to get out of the insulin resistance trap, reset your metabolism, and actually enjoy life without being controlled by food and cravings. She’s helped women shift their mindsets, ditch the office candy, and feel empowered instead of deprived—because health is about making choices that serve you, not settling for whatever’s in the breakroom.

In this episode, Lori is spilling all the tea on:

1. 88% of the population is insulin resistant and this is contributing to the obesity epidemic.
2. Leaky gut is when the permeability of your intestines is weak and allows toxins into your blood stream such as parasites, bacteria, and even food particles that may not have been digested all the way and this causes chronic inflammation and 80% of all health issues, which start in the gut.
3. By minimizing sugar, eating whole (not processed foods), eating lean meat and protein, removing dairy, and carbohydrates and gluten/wheat from your diet and going on a ketogenic diet, you can reduce inflammation, and reset your gut
4. Lowering your carbohydrates below 100/day is a good starting point. To really move your body into ketosis and lower the glycemic load on your body, you need to get below 50 carbs per day.
5. When we turn 50 our adrenals are required to make estrogen. But, at this age, our adrenals are burned out and cannot do what they need to. Estrogen has a lot of impact on our brain function and energy

Lori has been featured on multiple podcasts, spoken at the Whole Wheatery in Lancaster, CA, and is an absolute force when it comes to aging beautifully, adventurously, and on your own terms. When she’s not helping women reclaim their bodies, you’ll find her out in nature, running half-marathons, or hiking the Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon—because aging doesn’t mean slowing down, it means leveling up.

To Find more of Lori:

Website | Loribalue.com

Instagram | @loribalueweightloss

Girl, weight loss is just ONE of the journey's we find ourselves on in midlife, right?! I mean, there's the "I don't know who I am anymore" journey, the "I feel stuck" journey and the "journey of reinvention". You get to choose which journey you're on. Maybe you're on more than one of these paths. But, here's the deal! You don't have to do the journey alone! I will be launching a membership in 2Q 2025 and we want you to be a part of it. Our goal is to connect women from around the world for friendship and fun...virtually and face-to-face (where possible). If you're interested in being a founding member, email me at Shelby.bybee@gmail.com to get in on the action. Find us on Facebook...

Ever Felt Stuck, Burned Out, and Wondering WTF is Next? Yep, me too. Trapped in a job that sucked the life out of me, clinging to what felt “safe” even though it made me miserable. Stuck in the muck, as today's guest, Michael Gardon, calls it. Sound familiar?

Mike knows a thing or two about breaking free. He walked away from corporate burnout, turned a side hustle into a million-dollar business, and built a framework called Advantage Mapping to help others do the same. He’s a 3x entrepreneur, career pivot pro, and founder of The Break Community, where he helps 14,000+ people ditch unfulfilling work and design lives they actually love.

Here’s the kicker—your identity isn’t set in stone. You have way more agency over who you are and where you’re headed than you think. Mike will show you how to **stop asking “What do I want to DO?” and start asking “How do I want to FEEL?”** Because real transformation starts with knowing yourself and then mapping out multiple paths to get where you actually want to be. If you’ve ever thought, "Is this really IT?"—you’re gonna want to tune in. 🚀

In this episode, Mike teaches us

1. our brain values certain over uncertainty. That is often why we stay "stuck" in the muck...the thing that is making us unhappy...the work or the relationships.
2. Our Identity isn’t permanent and we have a lot of agency over what it is and what we want our identity to be. Once we realize we have agency over identity we can start to look into the future to determine who do I want to be and what are the steps I’m taking to get there.
3. When visioning your future, don’t start with what do you want to DO, start with what do you want to feel like.
4. In order to know where you want to go, you have to have a solid understanding of who you are today and what are your strengths. Use an advantage map (from Warren Buffets Circle of Competence) to explore 8 different dimensions to explore how you can create advantage in your life.
5. Don’t look at your “next step” as a singular path. Develop and work 2-3 different options at once with the expectation that you learn from the experience and that one of the paths will work, allowing you to then focus your time and energy on that.

For more of Michael:

Website | michaelgardon.com

LinkedIn | Michaelgardon

And if you find yourself feeling stuck and wondering who you are and what do you want to become-join us. We are a tribe of like-minded, women in midlife who are trying to build connection with one another. You see, the more connections and friendships you have, the happier you will be as well. We will be launching a membership in 2Q 2025 and we want you to be a part of it. Our goal is to connect women from around the world for friendship and fun...virtually and face-to-face (where possible). If you're interested in being a founding member, email me at Shelby.bybee@gmail.com to get in on the action. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for more fun info!

Picture this: it’s January 1st, and you’ve decided this is your year. You’ve got the vision board, the new planner, maybe even some cute workout gear you bought to “motivate” yourself. You’re ready to transform your life. But fast-forward a few weeks (or, let’s be real, a few days), and your big plans have already turned into a pile of “meh.” Sound familiar? Starting a new habit is hard, and sticking with it? Even harder. But what if you’ve been going about it all wrong?

Enter today’s guest, Julie DeLucca-Collins, the habit queen, mindset coach, and all-around badass who’s here to tell you that the secret to lasting change isn’t about doing more—it’s about starting smaller. Like, ridiculously small. Julie is certified in “Tiny Habits,” and trust me, she’ll have you rethinking the way you approach every goal you’ve ever set.

Julie’s all about taking those microscopic wins, celebrating the heck out of them, and building momentum until your brain is hooked on feeling good. And here’s the kicker: she’s not here for comparison games or perfection. Julie is here to help you embrace your strengths, stay in your lane, and unapologetically show up as you.

Oh, and let’s talk receipts: Julie is a TEDx speaker, a member of the Governor’s Counsel for Women and Girls in Connecticut, and has been featured on ABC, NBC, and FOX. She’s also the host of the top-rated podcast Casa DeConfidence, where she co-hosts with her #HotHandsomeHusband—yes, that’s what she calls him—and dishes out wisdom to help you step into your best life.

She’s also sharing her personal journey—how growing up as an outsider taught her the importance of belonging and how she helps others embrace their authentic selves to thrive.

So, if you’re tired of starting over, playing small, or waiting for “someday” to make a change, buckle up. Julie’s about to give you the truth, the tools, and the tiny habits you need to actually transform your life—one small step at a time.

In this episode, Julie teaches us:

1. The anatomy of forming a new habit includes: the ability to do the behavior, doing the behavior, then celebrating the behavior. When our brain feels good, that is when the consistency is created.
2. When trying to create a new habit, most of us start TOO big, get overwhelmed and then quit. When we start small, with one thing, we start to associate with the identity of who we are becoming and that makes it easier to continue to add onto what we've started.
3. Stop comparing yourself to others. Only compare your effort to your own past efforts and then celebrate getting incrementally better and showing up for yourself every day. This is the power that will keep you going forward when forming a new habit
4. Stay in your lane and capitalize on the strengths you have. There is more than one way to do "the thing". When. you show up authentically as yourself and honor who you are, the job gets done.
5. Learn to ask for help. Asking for help is a sign of self-awareness and strength.

To find more of Julie:

TEDx Talk | How Habits Give Us the Confidence to Dance in Life

Website | goconfidentlycoaching.com

Facebook | goconfidentlycoaching

For so long, I've felt stuck...that's right. I'm just like you. Struggling to figure out who I'm supposed to be when I grow up. But, you know what I've come to realize? I'm a connector. That is my calling. And I've wanted to form a membership for women in midlife to connect with other like minded women for...

You know, back in 2019, I made a decision that everyone in my life thought was completely out of character. I got a dog. That’s right—me, allergic to dogs, raised in a family of “definitely-not-dog-people,” decided to throw caution, logic, and my sinuses to the wind and bring home Oliver Van Winkle Tinkle. Yes, that’s his real name. And let me tell you, Ollie didn’t just chew through my favorite shoes—he chewed through my old way of life.

Fast forward past middle-of-the-night potty breaks, chewed-up underwear, and a global pandemic, and guess what? This single mom who once swore she’d never be “a dog person” is now that dog person. You know the type. The one talking to strangers at the dog park. The one organizing playdates for her dog like it’s preschool. The one whose dog has a better social life than she does.

But here’s the thing—Ollie didn’t just change my life; he taught me how to live it. And if you’re also a “dog person,” you get it. Dogs have this uncanny ability to teach us humans some pretty profound life lessons—things like living in the moment, finding your pack, and never underestimating the power of play.

Which brings me to today’s guest: Michelle Waitzman. Michelle is a writer, dog lover, and the author of Be as Happy as Your Dog: 16 Dog-Tested Ways to Be Happier Using Pawsitive Psychology. That’s right—she took all those little nuggets of wisdom our dogs offer us and turned them into a guide for living your best life.

So, whether you’re a dog owner, a dog admirer, or just someone trying to figure out why your Labrador is happier than you are, stick around. Michelle’s here to spill the tea—or should I say, the kibble—on how we can all live a little more like our dogs.

In this episode, Michelle is going to show us how to:

1. Humans spend 50% of their time obsessing over the past and future. You can't change the past, nor can you control the future. The present is where happiness lives. Embrace the present like your dog chasing a squirrel.

2. Savor the small joys in life—because honestly, if your dog can lose their mind over a squeaky toy, you can get excited about that first sip of coffee and experiencing and savoring joy for 20 seconds daily changes your brain chemistry.

3. Find your pack—and that includes cutting loose the energy vampires who don’t bring joy to your life and finding people who boost your joy with a love of common things.

4. Play like your happiness depends on it (because, spoiler alert, it does).

5. Embrace serendipity—because sometimes, the best things in life aren’t what you were chasing in the first place.

To find more of Michelle:

Website | beashappyasyourdog.com

Facebook | beashappyasyourdog

Instagram | @beashappyasyourdog

And if you find yourself feeling stuck and wondering my YOUR dog is happier than you are...join us. We are a tribe of like-minded, women in midlife who are trying to build connection with one another. You see, the more connections and friendships you have (and we're talking with people here...not our furry friends), the happier you will be as well. We will be launching a membership in 2Q2025 and we want you to be a part of it. Our goal is to connect women from around the world for friendship and fun...virtually and face-to-face (where possible). If you're interested in being a founding member, email me at Shelby.bybee@gmail.com to get in on the action. Find us on Facebook and follow us on

Ever found yourself in the middle of your life thinking, “Wait…is this it?” You've checked all the boxes—career, family, responsibilities—but somewhere along the way, you feel stuck. Like you’re spinning your wheels in the same patterns, wondering why you're not thriving the way you imagined. Maybe it’s the self-doubt whispering in the background. Maybe it's the invisible script of "I'm too old," or "Who am I to want more?" running on repeat.

Today’s guest is here to help you break free from that mental loop and step into the version of yourself you've been craving.

Meet Mindi Huebner, the Intuitive Mindset Mastery Coach who’s rewriting the rules on personal transformation. She’s not just about positive thinking—she’s about rewiring your brain for real so you can stop self-sabotaging and start living fully.

Mindi helps high-achieving women like YOU identify the subconscious beliefs holding them back, crush the mental habits that keep you playing small, and show up with confidence like never before.

She’s an IBCP certified NLP practitioner, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and the queen of subconscious reprogramming and today, she’s sharing the exact tools she’s used with countless women to turn them from goal-setters to goal-getters. We’ll dive into her game-changing Mental Rehearsal technique, discuss why negative self-talk is your brain’s worst enemy, and provide tools on how to align your conscious and subconscious minds for unstoppable success.

Today, she’s spilling all the tea on the 7 keys to achieving your desires, why visualization is your secret weapon for consistent success, and how to stop "shoulding" all over yourself.

In this episode Mindi teaches us:

1. Mindset is how we THINK about our circumstances and identity is how we show up in relation to the role we are filling in that moment (employee, single mom, parent, sister) and the goal we are trying to achieve.
2. Negative self-talk is the surefire fastest way to self sabotage. This narrative gets embedded within your subconscious and is running the show 95% of the time. So the first step in rewiring your brain is an awareness of this self-talk
3. Stop "Shoulding" on yourself! It only feeds your negative narrative. Instead say, "from now on... in the future... next time". We cannot change the past and what has happened. But, when we know better, we can do better.
4. You can align your conscious with your subconscious mind. You first bring awareness to what you want. Think about it. Write down that smart goal and THEN you embed the thoughts into your subconscious with pictures, sounds, and and feelings. Visualize your success through mental practice. Vividly imagine what you want so clearly you can dive into a swimming pool of it. Imagine what it will feel like, what it tastes like.
5. Just show up and do the thing. Do that over and over and then you go from the woman who baked a cake to the baker. The more you show up and do the thing, regardless of the outcome, the more you embody the spirit of the person you want to become.

For more of Mindi:

Website | mindihuebner.com

Instagram | @mindihuebner

Mindi teaches us that when you change the way you look at things the things you look at change. That really resonated with me because we are forced to look at things differently in midlife. Not only because we are wiser, but because to stay the same is to stagnate. Midlife can be one of the best times in our lives. It is time to let go of the narratives that have held us back for so long and reframe and rewire the...

Welcome back, beautiful souls. Today's episode is a powerful one. We're diving deep into the messy, complicated, heart-wrenching reality of grief. Not the "just keep busy and you'll get over it" kind — but the raw, unapologetic truth of loss and healing.

My guest today is the unstoppable Deb Day, a Certified Master Transformational Health and Life Coach, motivational speaker, and author who knows firsthand what it means to rebuild after profound loss. After losing her husband suddenly at 50, Deb found herself navigating a storm of grief, PTSD, and anxiety. Yet she emerged with a new purpose: guiding high-achieving women to break free from stress, burnout, and the cycles that no longer serve them. She's a change master and cycle breaker with a gift for helping others see what's possible in their lives, even when they're stuck in the darkest chapters.

As this episode goes live, I find myself personally connected to this conversation in a way I never expected. My ex-husband, Michael - the father of my two incredible daughters — has just passed away unexpectedly. Our relationship had so much complexity and was layered with love, laughter, and struggle, and while we've been emotionally peeling back these layers for years. His death has brought a wave of grief I didn't see coming. It's not just about mourning him, but also witnessing the pain my daughters are facing, losing their dad far too soon.

Grief isn't just about losing someone physically. It can be the loss of a relationship, an identity, your youth, a job, or the version of yourself you thought you'd always be. Deb teaches us that grief, while gut-wrenching, can also be a space for rebirth. She shares how to honor those we've lost by honoring ourselves — taking care of our mind, body, and spirit, one small step at a time.

In this episode, we get real about the winding road of grief — the triggers that can knock you sideways when you least expect it and how to hold space for those emotions instead of brushing them under the rug. Deb shares her signature IMPACT Alignment Methodology — a holistic approach to breaking free from self-sabotage, stress, and patterns that hold us back.

If you're walking through a season of loss — whether it's a person, a dream, or a part of yourself — this conversation will remind you that healing is possible. You are stronger than you think. And on the other side of grief? There’s growth, resilience, and a life filled with purpose.

In this episode, Deb teaches us:

1. We honor the memory of those we have loved and lost by honoring ourselves. Taking really good care of ourselves enables us to more forward one small step at a time.
2. Loss can be a time of growth and rebirth. It is an opportunity to ask ourselves, "who am I", "what is the opportunity for growth" and "what will be the catalyst to help me do that?"
3. We can grieve a loss of any kind. When we go through the midlife transition we may be experiencing the grief of losing our youth, who we once were, children who grow up and leave the house, even our own sense of self. The process for healing these losses is similar to the way we would heal from the loss of a loved one.
4. Grief can stay with you for a long time. From that point forward any loss felt can trigger or reignite the emotions that linger just below the surface. But, identifying those feelings and triggers is one of the first steps on the healing journey.
5. Grief doesn't always entail the loss of a loved one. It can include any loss including the loss of a friendship, the loss of a job, the loss of a grown child leaving the household. These losses all bring with them the same emotions that come with grief and the emotions can be managed in the same way.

For more of Deb:

Website | debdaycoaching.com

Facebook |

So, here’s the tea: I once dated a guy who had 8 kids (yes...8). He also had a volatile ex, and a demanding job with insane hours. Between late-night hangouts after his shifts and babysitting his two giant dogs (because his place wouldn’t allow pets), I twisted myself into a pretzel trying to keep up with the chaos. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. We eventually admitted he wasn’t emotionally available, and I had to face the fact that no amount of magnetic chemistry could fix what wasn’t right.

Once I stepped back, I had a major "aha" moment. I wasn’t just drawn to him...I was drawn to the chaos. Growing up in a whirlwind household with 4 kids and two constantly-on-the-go executive parents, chaos was my comfort zone. Add a past relationship with a narcissist into the mix, and I’d spent years hustling for love and validation, convinced that meeting everyone else’s needs was the key to feeling worthy.

Sound familiar? Do you keep finding yourself replaying the same tired dating script—different face, same emotionally unavailable guy? Let me tell you, it’s not just bad luck. It’s about the stories we’re carrying, and until you rewrite them, you’ll keep attracting the same drama in a different package.

But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be this way. Enter Soni Pelty, certified relationship coach and founder of Limitless Love with Soni. Soni is the fierce, unapologetic guide you didn’t know you needed. She’s here to help you untangle those toxic narratives, break free from those generational chains, and uncover who you really are—your true, radiant, limitless self.

Soni’s story begins with an arranged marriage—a cultural expectation she didn’t question until misery forced her to. Taking a bold step, she became the first in her family to reclaim her power and walk away. Suddenly single in her 40s, she entered the dating world for the very first time. What happened next? Let’s just say it’s a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and transformation.

Through her innovative coaching and personal story, Soni helps women rewrite their love narratives, step into their worth, and attract the deep, soul-nourishing love they deserve. She’s here to show you why settling is never an option—and why soaring is your birthright. Today, she’s spilling all the wisdom that can help you do the same.

In this episode, Soni teaches us:

1. Unconditional love starts with loving yourself first, free from societal norms or outdated notions about relationships. You have the power to create the love story you deserve.
2. Feminine energy is about receiving, not doing. Let men step into their natural role as caretakers by creating space for them to give, rather than taking charge of every aspect of the relationship.
3. Instead of focusing solely on what you want in a partner, reflect on the unique qualities you bring to the table. Confidence in your worth sets the foundation for healthier relationships.
4. Your life should be rich with friends, hobbies, and passions. Dating should complement your life, not consume it. Think of dating as one small part of your larger journey.
5. Before dating, define who you are and what you truly want through a personal mission statement. Date from a space of clarity and self-awareness, and explore multiple connections (carousel dating) to find the right fit.

For more of Soni:

Website | limitlesslovewithsoni.com

Instagram | @limitlesslovewithsoni

And ladies, stepping into your worth and power won't just enhance your romantic relationships it will elevate your life! Are you ready to step into who you were meant to be and life a life you...