Guest: Wayne Lehrer

Theme: Aging with Intention: Why Midlife Is the Beginning, Not the End

Aging is inevitable—but how we age is a choice.

In this powerful and deeply inspiring episode of Mature Allure, host Sherri O. sits down with Wayne Lehrer, author of The Art of Conscious Aging and The Prodigy Within, to explore how midlife and beyond can become the most meaningful, vibrant, and purpose-filled chapter of our lives.

Wayne has spent decades studying health, mindfulness, movement, diet, meditation, and authentic happiness. Now in his 70s, he brings lived wisdom and science-backed insight to one essential question: What if aging isn’t a decline—but an awakening?

Together, Sherri and Wayne unpack the concept of Life’s Third Act—a shift from achievement and accumulation toward purpose, contribution, and interdependence. Wayne explains how our bodies become a powerful feedback system as we age, guiding us toward healthier choices, deeper joy, and more conscious living.

This conversation speaks directly to women navigating career disruption, identity shifts, retirement, and reinvention—offering reassurance, clarity, and tangible steps forward.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What “conscious aging” really means—and why it matters more than ever

• How to release outdated identities and redefine purpose in midlife

• Why retirement can be a time of expansion, not contraction

• The importance of community, creativity, and curiosity as we age

• How listening to your body’s feedback system can transform your health

• Simple daily practices to move from survival to fulfillment

• Why it’s never too late to learn, grow, and begin again

This episode is a powerful reminder that your third act isn’t the end of the story—it’s a rebirth.

Learn more about Sherri O.:

Website: https://matureallure.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4matureallure/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mature.allure

Instagram: @mature.allure

Subscribe to the Mature Allure podcast for more inspiring stories and discussions on self-love and empowerment. For feedback, questions, or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us through our website or social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Guests: Lori Oliver and Jill MacRae
Theme: Sleep Smarter. Live Stronger.

In this empowering episode of Mature Allure, host Sherri O. sits down with powerhouse founders Lori Oliver and Jill MacRae of The Inactive Company, the sleep-performance brand transforming how we rest, recover, and age well. With decades of experience launching products, scaling brands, and leading marketing teams for companies like Spanx, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks, Lori and Jill bring unmatched insight into how women in midlife can reclaim their energy, build businesses, and prioritize wellness—starting with better sleep.

Together, they break down the science behind their groundbreaking sleep mask, The Inactivator, and why quality sleep is the most underrated tool for longevity, beauty, emotional resilience, and peak performance. They also pull back the curtain on launching a business in midlife, what’s changed in marketing, and why old-school strategies still win.

Whether you're redefining your life after 40, building a new business, or desperately seeking better sleep during perimenopause and beyond—this episode is for you.

✨ Key Takeaways

1. Why Sleep Is the Ultimate Wellness Tool
Lori and Jill explain how blackout, thermoregulation, and CBT-I principles can dramatically improve sleep quality and recovery—without medication.

2. The Power of Reinvention in Midlife
Both founders openly share their transitions from corporate careers to entrepreneurship, and how being “forced into change” often leads to the best chapters.

3. Modern Marketing: What Works Now
From influencer culture to old-school PR, they break down what actually moves the needle when launching a brand today—and how anyone can apply those strategies.

✨ Featured Product: The Inactivator

A scientifically engineered sleep mask with:
✔️ 100% blackout
✔️ Thermoregulation to cool the face
✔️ Customizable ergonomic fit
✔️ CBT-I inspired bedtime rituals

Learn more at The Inactive Company.

Learn more about Sherri O.:

Website: https://matureallure.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4matureallure/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mature.allure

Instagram: @mature.allure

Subscribe to the Mature Allure podcast for more inspiring stories and discussions on self-love and empowerment. For feedback, questions, or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us through our website or social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Guest: Ana Hebra Flaster
Episode Theme: Immigrant stories, family legacies, and the bravery it takes to start over.

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of Mature Allure, host Sherri O. sits down with award-winning writer Ana Hebra Flaster to explore her family’s refugee journey from Cuba to New Hampshire, the complexities of the U.S. immigration experience, and the emotional legacy carried across generations.

Ana’s memoir, Property of the Revolution, chronicles her family’s abrupt escape from Cuba, the resilience of the women who held everything together, and the brave storytelling tradition that preserved her cultural identity. She shares how trauma, memory, and courage shaped her life’s work—and why understanding immigrant stories matters now more than ever.

Together, Sherri and Ana unpack:

• The difference between refugees, immigrants, and migrants

• How U.S. political interests shape immigration policies across decades

• Why storytelling can be both protective and painful

• What Ana wants future generations of Cuban Americans to remember

• How her family survived New Hampshire winters with zero snow experience

This honest and deeply human conversation offers context, compassion, and cultural insight—especially at a time when immigration dominates national headlines.

Highlights

1. Refusing Victimhood: “Ponte Guapa—Make Yourself Brave”

2. Immigration Then vs. Now

3. Storytelling as Cultural Survival

Connect with Ana Hebra Flaster

• Website: anacubana.com

• Newsletter/Blog: CubaCurious (Substack)

• Purchase her memoir Property of the Revolution: available via links on her site (Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Simon & Schuster) anacubana.com

• Book info: https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2025/11/20/freedom-flights-cuba-us-immigration-policy-castro-trump-ana-hebra-flaster

Learn more about Sherri O.:

Website: https://matureallure.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4matureallure/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mature.allure

Instagram: @mature.allure

Subscribe to the Mature Allure podcast for more inspiring stories and discussions on self-love and empowerment. For feedback, questions, or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us through our website or social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Guest: Rebecca “Becky” Galli
Episode Theme: Love, Loss, Healing & Rethinking What’s Possible After 40

This week on Mature Allure, Sherri O. sits down with author and columnist Rebecca Faye Smith Galli, whose extraordinary life journey redefines courage and resilience. Becky has endured devastating losses—the death of her 17-year-old brother, her son’s degenerative illness and passing, her daughter’s autism diagnosis, a difficult divorce, and a sudden, life-altering paralysis just nine days later.

Yet through every hardship, she has discovered a powerful philosophy rooted in honesty, connection, and the belief that life can be good—no matter what.

In this deeply moving and inspiring conversation, Becky shares how she rebuilt her life, how writing became her anchor, and why “keeping moving” is at the heart of her healing. She talks about raising children with special needs, building support networks, and finding purpose again through her books Rethinking Possible and Morning Fuel.

Whether you’re navigating grief, caring for family, reinventing yourself after 40, or simply seeking hope, this episode offers wisdom you’ll carry with you long after listening.

🔑 Key Highlights:

1. “You need a boat crew for every storm.”

Becky explains how grief taught her the importance of finding the right people—therapists, friends, family, communities—to support you through life’s hardest seasons.

2. Turning pain into purpose through writing.

A simple email exchange after her paralysis unexpectedly launched Becky’s writing career, leading to newspaper columns, books, and her signature weekly reflections, “Thoughtful Thursdays.”

3. “Life can be good—no matter what.”

Becky shares the positive reframing she learned from her parents, illustrated by her unforgettable “milkshakes” story—an example of choosing possibility even when things don’t go as planned.

📘 Featured Work by Rebecca Galli

• Rethinking Possible — Becky’s powerful memoir about rebuilding life after unimaginable loss.

• Morning Fuel — A 366-day collection of inspirations designed to uplift, encourage, and ground your mornings.

Discover more of Becky’s writing at RebeccaFayeSmithGalli.com.

🎧 Listen Now

If you’re seeking hope, perspective, and proof that reinvention is possible at any age, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

Learn more about Sherri O.:

Website: https://matureallure.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4matureallure/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mature.allure

Instagram: @mature.allure

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Mature Allure podcast for more inspiring stories and discussions on self-love and empowerment. For feedback, questions, or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us through our website or social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this deeply moving and surprisingly funny episode of Mature Allure, host Sherri O. sits down with Amy Weinland Daughters — keynote speaker, sports journalist, satirist, and award-winning author of Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter.

Amy shares the extraordinary story of how one handwritten note to a childhood friend turned into a two-year pen-pal relationship and ultimately inspired her to write 580 handwritten letters to every one of her Facebook friends. The result? Transformative connection, healing, unexpected vulnerability, and powerful insights into what it means to be seen and valued in midlife.

Together, Sherri and Amy explore:

• Why handwritten letters impact our mental and emotional wellness — especially after 40

• The science behind handwriting, stress reduction, and emotional clarity

• How letter writing deepens empathy, presence, and gratitude in a digital world

• Why midlife is the perfect time to reconnect with others and rediscover yourself

• How Amy wrote 580 letters and the surprising reactions she received

• Her inspiring connection with “Dana” and the powerful story of Parker, grief, resilience, and hope

• Her book’s multiple awards and how the recognition has shaped her as a storyteller

• Revisiting her inner child through her second book, You Cannot Mess This Up

• Why she believes writing a simple, two-sentence note can change your entire outlook

Amy also shares practical advice for anyone wanting to start writing letters today — even if you haven’t picked up a pen in 20 or 30 years.

✍️ About Amy Weinland Daughters

Amy is a passionate advocate for connection in a disconnected world. From keynote talks to workshops, she speaks nationally about the power of handwritten notes to improve relationships, strengthen personal resilience, and build community. Her books include:

• Dear Dana — Gold Medal Winner for Nonfiction (Relationships, Memoir & Essays, 2023)

• You Cannot Mess This Up — a humorous, heartfelt time-travel memoir exploring family and self-discovery

• Learn more at amydaughters.com — her mailing address is there if you want to send her a letter (and she will write back!).

Learn more about Sherri O.:

Website: https://matureallure.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4matureallure/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mature.allure

Instagram: @mature.allure

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Mature Allure podcast for more inspiring stories and discussions on self-love and empowerment. For feedback, questions, or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us through our website or social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this inspiring episode of Mature Allure, Sherri O. sits down with Kevin Murphy, professional artist, educator, and founder of Evolve Artist, to explore what it truly takes to master art, creativity, and life. Kevin shares his journey from humble beginnings to creating a life of purpose and generosity through art, emphasizing the importance of hard work, systems, and understanding the fundamentals.

Kevin breaks down his unique approach to art education, including his four-step system for mastering painting, and shares why he believes “talent” is overrated, while discipline, a strong foundation, and thoughtful practice are everything. He also touches on life lessons about taking risks, staying motivated by purpose, and the power of giving back.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• How to break through fear and risk aversion.

• Kevin’s philosophy of education and how anyone can learn to create incredible art.

• The science and psychology behind visual perception and painting.

• Kevin’s non-traditional approach to art, blending classical training with modern techniques.

• Ways to get started with Evolve Artist resources, whether beginner or advanced.

For those ready to elevate their creativity or just curious about making sense of the visual world, this episode is packed with inspiration, actionable advice, and a fresh perspective on art, learning, and life.

Connect with Kevin Murphy:
Explore free resources and learn more about his programs at Evolveartist.com/ma.

Learn more about Sherri O.:

Website: https://matureallure.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4matureallure/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mature.allure

Instagram: @mature.allure

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Mature Allure podcast for more inspiring stories and discussions on self-love and empowerment. For feedback, questions, or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us through our website or social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What if one photo shoot could completely change the way you see yourself?

In this empowering episode of the Mature Allure podcast, host Sherri O. sits down with Liz Hansen, owner and photographer of Chicago Boudoir Photography, to explore how boudoir photography helps women—especially those over 40—reclaim confidence, self-love, and a renewed sense of beauty.

Liz shares her journey from family photographer to full-time boudoir entrepreneur, her bold leap into business ownership, and the thousands of women she’s helped rediscover their worth through the lens. She discusses how sensual photography becomes a powerful act of self-acceptance, and why “sexy is not a size—it’s a vibe.” From celebrating scars and milestones to redefining beauty beyond society’s narrow ideals, this episode is a powerful reminder that every woman deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and confident—exactly as she is.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• The transformative power of boudoir photography for women over 40

• How embracing vulnerability leads to greater confidence and self-acceptance

• The story of a client who used boudoir to celebrate life after a heart attack

• Liz’s courageous entrepreneurial journey and lessons on taking bold risks

• Why beauty isn’t about size, shape, or age—it’s about owning your power

✨ “Sexy isn’t a size—it’s a state of mind.”

Learn more about Sherri O.:

Website: https://matureallure.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4matureallure/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mature.allure

Instagram: @mature.allure

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Mature Allure podcast for more inspiring stories and discussions on self-love and empowerment. For feedback, questions, or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us through our website or social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this heartfelt and empowering episode of the Mature Allure Podcast, host Sherri O. welcomes back acclaimed author and executive ghostwriter Cheril N. Clarke for a deep dive into her newest novel, Before I Am Erased, part of her acclaimed Keyhole Chronicles series.

The novel follows a 64-year-old Ethiopian-American woman living with Parkinson’s who refuses to be silenced or erased by age, illness, or society’s expectations. With wit, honesty, and emotional depth, Cheril explores sisterhood, resilience, and the many ways women continue to reinvent themselves in midlife and beyond.

✨ Special Feature:
Cheril reads Chapter One of Before I Am Erased, giving listeners a front-row seat to her captivating storytelling. This excerpt introduces the novel’s heroine and her close-knit circle of friends, offering a vivid glimpse into the book’s themes of courage, humor, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood.

✨ In This Episode:

• How Cheril created a 64-year-old protagonist who challenges stereotypes about aging women

• The inspiration behind Before I Am Erased and The Keyhole Chronicles universe

• Why it’s vital to write fully realized, mature female characters

• The joy of sisterhood, friendship, and second chances in midlife

• A live reading from Before I Am Erased — a sneak peek you won’t want to miss

🎧 Tune in to hear how Cheril’s storytelling celebrates visibility, vitality, and reinvention at every age.

📚 Learn more about Cheril’s books and writing at CherilNClarke.com and on Amazon.

Learn more about Sherri O.:

Website: https://matureallure.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4matureallure/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mature.allure

Instagram: @mature.allure

Don’t forget to subscribe to the Mature Allure podcast for more inspiring stories and discussions on self-love and empowerment. For feedback, questions, or suggestions for future episodes, reach out to us through our website or social media channels. We’d love to hear from you!

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.