The Pause We Didn’t Plan and the Growth We Needed

Summary:After more than six months away, DeAnna and Cristie are back behind the mic. In this return episode, they share what life looked like during the break, from caregiving, grief, and family changes to career growth, creativity, and writing a book. They talk honestly about what it means to navigate loss, step into a new season in midlife, and intentionally rebuild a life that feels aligned. They also share what’s ahead for Pieces of a Woman, including more video, more guests, and more conversations around leadership, reinvention, and real life.Our next episode will be out in two weeks, and moving forward, Pieces of a Woman will be a biweekly podcast.Key Takeaways:00:00 Welcome back after more than six months away, and the decision to bring the podcast back with video and more consistency02:27 DeAnna shares why she stepped down from her brokerage role, how caregiving shaped the last two years, and what it was like to walk her mom through the final chapter of life07:05 DeAnna opens up about the emotional toll of aging parents, her daughter’s traumatic separation, and why 2026 feels like a fresh start and a new design season 09:23 A conversation about being in your 50s, living intentionally, staying open to life, and not saying no too quickly in this “go-go years” season 11:47 Cristie shares how an intense leadership role, family life, travel, and even Lego became part of her coping, growth, and creative outlet over the last two years 14:09 Cristie reveals she is writing a book about her childhood, leadership journey, motherhood, and loss, and explains why it feels like legacy work16:29 DeAnna and Cristie talk about reconnecting, returning with a new studio setup, and what listeners can expect next, including leadership topics and local guestsResources Mentioned in This Episode:Garbage Bag Girl: Finding Hope and Healing After Trauma with Celeste Edmunds Garbage Bag Girl by Celeste Edmunds and Richard Paul EvansCaring for Aging Parents and Navigating the UnknownYouth of Our Senior YearsThe Past That Shapes You – Cristie NorthDeAnna Robbins | Elevated Edge CoachingAre video podcasts more your style? Subscribe to our YouTube channel!We'd love to hear from you! Send us a message on Instagram or Facebook.Do you want your next vacation to be in luxury? Book your exclusive retreat here. Thanks for Listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the Podcast:If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or on your favorite podcast app.Leave Us an Apple Podcast Review:Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.