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What happens when life strips away your identity? At age 50, Jennifer Arthurton found herself divorced after 22 years, an empty nester, unemployed from her corporate executive role, and battling a stress-induced illness—all at once. This perfect storm became the catalyst for a profound transformation and the birth of her platform, Old Chicks Know Shit.

During our heartfelt conversation, Jennifer reveals how she navigated this identity crisis when every role she'd used to define herself suddenly vanished. "If I'm not a wife, if I'm not a mother, if I'm not a corporate executive, then who am I?" This question resonates deeply with many women who've prioritized others while disconnecting from their authentic selves.

We explore how women unconsciously minimize our accomplishments and diminish our power through self-deprecating language and thought patterns. Jennifer shares the liberating experience of challenging limiting beliefs—including how she overcame a forty-year belief that she "wasn't a good writer" based on childhood criticism about her handwriting. This breakthrough eventually led to creating her transformative platform.

The journey through midlife reinvention requires emotional release and surrender. Jennifer describes a powerful meditation experience where suppressed emotions emerged as uncontrollable tears, creating necessary space for healing and self-discovery. For a self-described "type A" personality, letting go of control became her greatest gift, opening doors to possibilities she couldn't have planned.

For women feeling stuck in repetitive patterns, Jennifer offers practical wisdom: take the tiniest possible steps forward, challenge negative thought patterns by questioning their validity, and most importantly, create quiet time to listen to your inner voice. "Whatever question you're struggling with right now, you already have the answer. It's in there."

Ready to reclaim your power and discover what's possible in life's second act? This conversation will remind you that you already have everything you need—your accumulated wisdom, strength, and life experience have perfectly prepared you for what comes next.

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Your body is speaking, but are you listening? That burning sensation in your lower back, the numbness in your legs, and the constant shifting in your chair aren't random discomforts—they're urgent messages from a body designed for movement, not prolonged sitting.

As a movement specialist, I've seen how our sedentary lifestyle creates a cascade of health problems that most people don't recognize until significant damage has occurred. We've normalized discomfort to the point where we accept pain and stiffness as inevitable parts of aging rather than symptoms of our increasingly stationary habits. The reality? Sitting compresses your entire spine, weakens crucial muscles, and—perhaps most surprisingly—impairs your cognitive function through what I call the "brain-bottom connection." When your bottom goes numb from sitting too long, your brain literally can't perform at its best.

The military understood this connection years ago, implementing mandatory movement breaks every 50 minutes during long training sessions—a practice supported by modern research showing how movement acts as a reset button for both body and mind. Have you ever worked on an email for hours, only to stand up briefly and suddenly notice all the typos you missed? That's your brain waking up after being dulled by prolonged sitting. Even more alarming is "gluteal amnesia" (or "dead butt syndrome"), where your glute muscles literally forget how to function properly, creating a domino effect of compensation patterns throughout your body.

Breaking free from sitting disease doesn't require dramatic lifestyle changes—just consistent attention to movement breaks throughout your day. Set a timer, stand up every 50 minutes, and give your body the reset it's desperately signaling for. Whether it's a quick stretch, a walk down the hallway, or dancing to your favorite song, any movement counts. Your future self, free from preventable pain and limitation, will thank you. Ready to feel what your body is truly capable of? Join us for a free week at Small Space Pilates or sign up for our 11-minute challenge—because everyone deserves to feel good in their body, and movement is how we get there.

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Want to be a guest or know someone would be a great fit? I am looking for military vets, active duty, military brats, veteran service orgs or anyone in the fitness industry

What if the most powerful mental health intervention was simply asking someone "How are you?" and truly listening to their answer? Dr. Iran McGann, psychologist and former Israeli military officer, has built his life's work around this deceptively simple approach.

From his unique perspective as someone who served in a country where "being a veteran isn't really a thing because everybody's a veteran," Dr. McGann bridges worlds that rarely intersect. He draws compelling parallels between military and medical cultures—both demanding heroism, suppressing vulnerability, and facing alarmingly high suicide rates. This insight led him to create Early Alert, an innovative suicide prevention system that texts regular wellness check-ins to vulnerable populations, connecting them with resources when needed.

Dr. McGann's work extends deeply into family dynamics, particularly through his organizations Parenting for Humans and Divorcing Dads. He challenges our focus on tactical parenting problems, instead emphasizing relationship quality: "The better the relationship, the easier everything is." His approach to supporting divorcing fathers addresses a critical gap in mental health services, noting that men experience significantly higher suicide rates during divorce than women, largely due to isolation and lack of support networks.

Perhaps most powerfully, Dr. McGann reframes our understanding of how divorce affects children. "What's bad for kids isn't divorce—it's conflict between parents," he explains, advocating for children to remain children during family transitions, not messengers, spies, or judges between warring parents. His practical guidance reminds us that self-care (particularly adequate sleep) forms the foundation for healthy relationships, and that small daily "deposits" of attention and respect build the connection children need to thrive.

Join us for this illuminating conversation about connection, mental health, and the profound impact of asking someone how they're doing—and caring enough to listen to their answer. Whether you're a parent, veteran, healthcare provider, or simply someone who values deeper human connection, Dr. McGann's insights will transform how you approach your most important relationships.

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