What if a single captured moment could reconnect you with the woman you thought had faded from view? Many women step into midlife feeling invisible, uncertain, or disconnected from their own reflection. Yet the right photographic experience can reopen that connection and reveal a version of themselves they believed was long gone.

In this episode of Embrace the Encore, Marie Wallace sits down with award-winning portrait photographer Julie Kaplan, whose work with women over 40 is rooted in gentleness, honesty, and the belief that beauty deepens with life experience. Julie shares how her guided process helps women let go of the pressure to be perfect and instead allows them to be seen as they truly are. Her sessions invite women to soften, breathe, trust, and rediscover the spark they feared they had lost.

Julie and Marie explore the emotional shifts that unfold in the studio, from nervous beginnings to moments of genuine self-recognition. They discuss why this stage of life often brings women to her door, how vulnerability transforms into confidence, and why printed portraits can become meaningful markers of identity, belonging, and legacy. This conversation is a reminder that self-discovery is still possible and that midlife can be a powerful invitation back to yourself.

Tune in to episode 17 of Embrace the Encore and discover how choosing to be seen can open the door to your next chapter.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The moment that inspired Julie to focus on photographing women over 40 (3:00)
• What it truly means for a woman to feel seen in midlife (6:00)
• How Julie guides clients from nerves to confidence during a session (8:00)
• How vulnerability and confidence coexist in front of the camera (and why tears are common) (13:40)
• The shift that happens when women stop seeing their insecurities and start seeing their essence (17:30)
• Why viewing unretouched images can be a transformative experience (20:00)
• How portraits become meaningful memories and legacy pieces (26:00)
• Why saying yes to a photo session can be a brave first step toward personal reinvention (30:00)

Connect with Julie Kaplan:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest

Let's connect!

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Email: marie@embracetheencore.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people worry about getting hurt doing something bold. Dierdre Wolownick reminds us that turning into a couch potato can be even more dangerous. At 66, she became the oldest woman to climb El Capitan, one of Yosemite’s most iconic walls. But her real ascent began long before that, when she decided to stop accepting limits and start writing her own story.

In this episode of Embrace the Encore, Marie Wallace sits down with Dierdre Wolownick to explore what it truly means to reinvent yourself at any stage of life. A professor, musician, marathoner, author, and lifelong adventurer, Dierdre has lived many lives and built each one through curiosity, courage, and persistence. Her latest book, Success in 7 Steps, turns those lessons into a clear, actionable method for anyone ready to pursue their dreams, no matter how far away they seem.

Dierdre shares how running marathons in her 50s and climbing El Capitan in her 60s reshaped her understanding of fear, how journaling became her greatest teacher, and why success isn’t about talent but about having a method. Her story is proof that reinvention is not a one-time act. It is a lifelong habit of saying yes to what calls your heart.

Tune in to episode 16 of Embrace the Encore to rediscover what’s possible when you stop asking, “Am I too old?” and start asking, “What’s next?”

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Dierdre defines reinvention and why it’s an ongoing process (3:20)
• The simple method behind her book, Success in 7 Steps (4:20)
• Why staying on the couch can be more dangerous than climbing rocks (6:10)
• How running marathons at 54 led her to discover a new version of herself (8:10)
• The mental shift that helped her see limits as choices, not rules (13:50)
• What climbing El Capitan taught Dierdre about trust, courage, and tenacity (15:30)
• The three categories that shape her Seven Step Method (24:20)
• How journaling can be your greatest tool for clarity and growth (30:20)
• What “Embrace the Encore” means to Dierdre and how she’s living it (39:40)

Connect with Dierdre Wolownick:

• Instagram
• IMDb
• Get a copy of Success in 7 Steps by Dierdre Wolownick

Let's connect!

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Email: marie@embracetheencore.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaving behind a life you’ve built for decades takes courage. Leaving with no plan B takes faith. When Rosie Aiello made the decision to walk away from an abusive marriage, a familiar home, and everything she knew, she burned the boats behind her—and never looked back.

In this episode of Embrace the Encore, Marie Wallace sits down with Rosie Aiello, a women's life and transformation coach, international speaker, best-selling author, podcaster, and founder of the Love Is Kind movement. With grace and honesty, Rosie shares how she rebuilt her life from the ground up after years of emotional abuse, teaching herself new skills, rediscovering her voice, and transforming her pain into purpose.

Rosie’s wisdom runs deep. She reminds us that kindness is not a sign of weakness, that setting boundaries is a form of self-love, and reinvention begins with the decision to stop waiting for permission. Her journey is not just one of survival but of intentional self-reclamation—of creating a life rooted in dignity, joy, and freedom.

Tune in to episode 15 of Embrace the Encore to hear how Rosie’s journey of self-reinvention can help you rediscover your power, rewrite your story, and remember that it is never too late to begin again.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How Rosie found the courage to “burn the boats” and start over with no plan B (3:10)
• The moment Rosie chose self-preservation over fear and guilt (6:10)
• Rosie's amazing story of self-education for survival (9:20)
• Why boundaries are essential to living in kindness and truth (12:10)
• Kindness is strength, not softness (15:40)
• The lessons she learned about forgiveness and self-worth (20:33)
• Why women often mistake endurance for love (23:10)
• How knowing your values can help you reclaim your power (29:18)
• Rewiring Beliefs: The Love is Kind Pledge (32:20)
• The Power of Mantras and Self-Compassion (35:00)
• What “Embrace the Encore” means to Rosie (41:20)

Connect with Rosie Aiello:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• The Love Is Kind Network

Enjoy Rosie's FREEBIES:

1. Love is Kind Empowerment Pledge—for everyone (Written by Rosie and her daughter)
2. How Not to Get into Another Toxic Relationship

Let's connect!

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Email: marie@embracetheencore.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.