Message In The Middle

Episode DescriptionWhat happens when you've achieved everything you thought you wanted, only to discover there's something deeper calling you?For more than thirty years, Kathy Robinson built an impressive corporate career, rising to become Chief Audit Executive and Chief Risk Officer at a Fortune 250 company. Then, at the height of her success, she made the courageous decision to walk away. What followed wasn't the end of her story. It was the beginning of a profound transformation.In this thoughtful conversation, Kathy shares the inspiration behind her new book, Walking with the Sage: A Story of Leaving Everything to Find More, and explores why midlife isn't a crisis to survive, but an invitation to become more fully ourselves. Together, we talk about identity, reinvention, aging with intention, and the wisdom that often emerges when we're willing to slow down and listen.If you've ever wondered whether your best years are behind you, or if there's still another chapter waiting to be written, this episode offers hope, practical insight, and a gentle reminder that the answers you're searching for may already be within you.In this episode, you'll discover:• Why major life transitions are invitations for growth rather than signs of failure• What it means to be "in the goo" and why the messy middle is where transformation begins• How nature and stillness help us reconnect with our inner wisdom• The difference between living as a warrior and living as a sage• Practical ways to navigate uncertainty with greater self-trust and authenticity• Why your most meaningful chapter may still be aheadWhether you're navigating a career change, an empty nest, retirement, or simply feeling called toward something more meaningful, this conversation will leave you feeling grounded, encouraged, and inspired to trust your own path.Because sometimes the bravest journey isn't climbing higher. It's having the courage to come home to yourself.Connect with Kathy:  https://athenawellness.com/Free book companion that offers three wellness practices: https://athenawellness.com/sage Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

For years, Nancy Deyo lived by the same rules many of us have been taught to follow: work hard, stay disciplined, push through discomfort, and keep going.Those strategies helped her build a successful career as a Silicon Valley CEO. But after a medical crisis on Mount Kilimanjaro left her living with chronic pain, years of misdiagnosis, opioid dependence, and an entirely different reality than the one she had planned, she was forced to ask a difficult question:What do we do when the strategies that made us successful stop working?In this deeply honest conversation, Nancy shares what it was like to grieve the loss of the life she expected, navigate years of being told nothing was wrong, redefine resilience, and learn that perseverance doesn't always mean pushing harder.Together, we explore what it means to stop fighting for the person you used to be and begin building a life that honors who you are now.Whether you're navigating chronic illness, burnout, caregiving, grief, retirement, or simply discovering that the old rules no longer fit, this episode is an invitation to consider a different path forward.Because sometimes resilience isn't about enduring more.Sometimes it's about learning to listen.In this episode, we discuss:• Living with chronic pain and medical uncertainty• The emotional impact of being dismissed or misunderstood• Opioid dependence and recovery• Grieving a former version of yourself• Acceptance versus giving up• Slowing down and redefining success• Reinvention in midlife• What resilience looks like when pushing harder no longer works• Lessons from Nancy's forthcoming memoir, Perilous AscentConnect with Nancy:Substack Life Inside Pain: https://nancydeyo.substack.comWebsite: https://nancydeyo.com Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

What happens when the person who once cared for you begins to need your care?For many people in midlife, one of the most unexpected transitions isn't retirement, an empty nest, or a career change. It's becoming the caregiver for an aging parent.In this deeply moving episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with psychologist, memoirist, and poet Sarah Vosburgh to discuss her memoir, Who Will Name the Bees?, a powerful reflection on her mother's journey through Alzheimer's disease and her own experience navigating the emotional realities of caregiving.Together they explore:• The moment a daughter becomes a caregiver• The complicated emotions of loving someone through Alzheimer's• Guilt, grief, and the weight of making difficult decisions• The role reversal that happens when parents begin to depend on their children• What remains when memory begins to fade• The invisible emotional labor caregivers carry• How writing became part of Sarah's healing journey• Resilience, family dynamics, and finding meaning through lossThrough lyrical storytelling and honest reflection, Sarah offers a compassionate look at one of life's most challenging experiences while reminding us that connection, love, and identity often endure long after memories begin to disappear.Whether you're caring for an aging parent, grieving a loved one, navigating dementia or Alzheimer's, or simply trying to make sense of a changing family relationship, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, understood, and a little less alone.Connect with Sarah Vosburgh:Website: https://www.SarahVosburgh.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahVosburghAuthorInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/scvosburghX: http://x.com/SCVosburghTikTok: http://tiktok.com/SarahVosburghAuthorAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/sarahvosburgh Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

Some questions don't have easy answers.Have you ever experienced an unexplained fear that didn't seem connected to anything in your life? Felt an immediate connection with someone you had just met? Or found yourself repeating the same emotional patterns despite years of self-reflection and personal growth?In this follow-up conversation, Marianne welcomes licensed somatic psychotherapist and certified spiritual integration hypnotherapist Melanie Smithson back to Message in the Middle to explore a topic that invites curiosity more than certainty: past-life regression and the possibility that some of our present-day struggles may have roots beyond this lifetime.Whether you approach this conversation through a spiritual lens, a symbolic one, or with healthy skepticism, Melanie offers thoughtful insights into why some experiences seem resistant to traditional explanations and how exploring them can sometimes open the door to deeper healing.Together, they discuss: What past-life regression actually is  Why some fears and emotional patterns seem to have no obvious origin  Soul connections and why certain relationships feel instantly familiar  How the body and spirit may work together in healing  The role curiosity plays in personal growth  Why some of life's biggest questions don't always have simple answers This isn't an episode about convincing you what to believe.It's an invitation to stay curious.Connect with Melanie:  http://www.smithsonclinic.com/ Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

Why do we keep reacting in ways we don't fully understand? Why do certain situations seem to hit harder than they should? And why can we have years of insight into our patterns and still feel stuck repeating them?In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Karen Rubinstein, speaker, author, and creator of The RETURN Way™, to explore the hidden fears and stories that often drive our reactions, relationships, and behaviors.Drawing from her own journey through alcoholism, recovery, trauma healing, and personal transformation, Karen shares how she discovered that most of what we call stress isn't actually about the moment we're living through. It's about the meaning our nervous system attached to experiences long ago.Together, Marianne and Karen discuss:• Why insight alone doesn't always create change• The difference between self-awareness and self-judgment• How shame keeps us stuck in familiar patterns• What survival mode can look like in high-functioning women• Why emotional intelligence is more practical than most people realize• The shift from self-improvement to self-alignment• How naming our fears begins to loosen their gripIf you've ever wondered why certain emotional triggers keep showing up, why healing feels harder than simply trying harder, or why you still struggle with patterns you thought you'd outgrown, this conversation offers both understanding and hope.Because real transformation doesn't begin with becoming someone new. It begins with understanding who you've been all along.Connect with Karen: https://www.karenrubinstein.comhttps://substack.com/@karenrubinsteinoutloudhttps://www.karenrubinstein.com/the-return-way Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

What happens after you speak up?In this deeply thoughtful conversation, Marianne sits down with broadcaster, author, and keynote speaker Lisa Cornwell to explore truth, conflict, accountability, emotional healing, and the complicated aftermath that can follow when someone chooses to speak openly.Following her memoir Troublemaker: A Memoir of Sexism, Retaliation, & the Fight They Didn’t See Coming and a Washington Post investigation into systemic issues in sports media, Lisa became a central figure in a national conversation about workplace culture and retaliation. But what makes this conversation so compelling is not just what happened publicly. It’s what happened internally afterward.Together, Marianne and Lisa explore the difference between being right and being effective, the emotional exhaustion of constantly defending yourself, the survival skills high-achieving women often have to unlearn, and the life-changing power of self-awareness.They also discuss emotional regulation, communication with intention, healing after conflict, making peace with being misunderstood, and what it means to stop living in a constant state of defense.This episode is thoughtful, emotionally honest, nuanced, and incredibly relevant to the cultural moment we’re living in.If you’ve ever struggled with speaking up, questioned whether the fallout was worth it, or found yourself trying to rebuild peace after difficult experiences changed you, this conversation will resonate deeply.Connect with Lisa: https://www.lisacornwell.com Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

What happens when we slow down long enough to truly see another human being?In this deeply thoughtful episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Jody Zarn, an author, corporate trainer, and TEDx speaker whose life changed after buying a cup of coffee for a man named Leroy who was experiencing homelessness.What began as one small act of kindness became a life-changing friendship that challenged everything Jody thought she understood about trauma, mental illness, dignity, and human connection. As she slowly earned Leroy’s trust, she discovered a man whose story, intelligence, pain, and humanity were far more layered than the labels people placed on him.Together, Marianne and Jody explore the emotional tension between helping and rescuing, the invisible ways trauma shapes us all, and why so many people today are quietly carrying the ache of feeling unseen.This conversation is emotional, nuanced, hopeful, and a reminder that every human being has a story beneath the surface.Connect with Jody:  https://www.jodyzarn.comhttps://mybook.to/JodyZarn Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

Retirement is something many of us prepare for financially, but few of us prepare for emotionally. What happens when the career that shaped your identity, routines, and sense of purpose suddenly disappears? And how do you rediscover yourself when the role you carried for decades is no longer there?In this episode, Marianne sits down with George Jerjian, an Emmy Award-winning producer, author, and retirement mindset mentor who helps people navigate the emotional and psychological side of retirement and reinvention. After a life-threatening diagnosis at 52 forced him to confront the fragility of life and the possibility of stepping away from his career, George began exploring the deeper identity shifts that often come with retirement.Together, they talk about grief, purpose, aging, societal expectations, and the outdated beliefs that can keep people stuck in later life. George also shares insights from studying more than 21,000 retirees around the world and explains why retirement is not about slowing down, but about creating meaning, clarity, and possibility in a new season of life.If you’ve been questioning what comes next, feeling the pull toward reinvention, or wondering who you are beyond productivity and achievement, this conversation will resonate deeply.Connect with George:Website LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Facebook X Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

There’s no shortage of advice when it comes to gut health right now.Parasite cleanses. Heavy metal detoxes. Protocols that promise to fix everything in a matter of weeks.And if you’ve been dealing with bloating, fatigue, constipation, or symptoms that never quite resolve, it makes sense why those promises are so appealing.But what if some of the things you’re doing to heal are actually putting more stress on your body instead of helping it?In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Dr. Kate Davis, a licensed chiropractor and Functional Medicine doctor whose own decade-long struggle with chronic gut issues led to the discovery of a significant parasite infection that had been missed for years.Together, they unpack what’s really happening beneath the surface when gut healing doesn’t work, why jumping into detox protocols too quickly can backfire, and how to approach healing in a way that actually supports the body.This conversation is honest, eye-opening, and deeply validating for anyone who feels like they’ve already tried everything and still isn’t getting results.In this episode, we cover: Why parasite cleanses and detox trends can sometimes do more harm than good  What’s actually happening in the body during strong “detox reactions”  The biggest gut health myths circulating right now  Why gut healing often fails, even when you’re doing all the “right” things  What “expensive pee” really means and why absorption matters  The correct order of healing and why skipping steps can keep you stuck  How gut health connects to stress, trauma, and the nervous system  Where to start if you feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or out of options If you’ve ever felt like your body isn’t responding the way it should, this episode will help you understand why and remind you that you’re not as stuck as you think.Connect with Dr. Davis:  WebsiteInstagram DM me the number ‘100’ on Instagram (@drkatedavis) and I’ll give you $100 off an initial consult + labs packageYouTube Podcast (Unconventional Medicine) Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

There comes a point in midlife that can feel both confusing and surprisingly unsettling.You've built a life. A career. A reputation. Maybe a family. You've worked hard, made sacrifices, and checked many of the boxes you once thought would lead to happiness and fulfillment.And then one day you find yourself wondering:Why doesn't this fit the way it used to?Not because you've failed.Not because your life is falling apart.But because you've grown.In this episode, Marianne sits down with Crystal Bell to explore what happens when the version of success you've been pursuing no longer feels fully aligned with who you've become.Crystal shares her journey from growing up in a low-income, unstable environment to becoming a technology executive, entrepreneur, coach, and wellness studio owner. Along the way, she discovered how perfectionism and overachievement helped her succeed while also creating pressure, exhaustion, and the feeling that more was always required.Together, they explore why so many accomplished women find themselves questioning what comes next in midlife, how to tell the difference between being busy and making progress, and what it means to create a life that reflects who you are now, not who you had to be to survive.In this episode, we discuss:• The hidden costs of perfectionism and overachievement • Why success and alignment aren't always the same thing • How to recognize when you've outgrown old definitions of achievement • The difference between motion and meaningful progress • Rebuilding trust in yourself after years of overthinking • Finding clarity during seasons of transition and reinvention • What it means to grow into the next version of yourselfConnect with Crystal:  Clarity-with-crystal.comLI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarity-with-crystalIG: @Clarity.With.CrystalYT: https://youtube.com/@clarity-with-crystal?si=4noHYQLjQjdPSLGQ Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

Sometimes the hardest experiences to recognize are the ones we are living through.Many women think intimate partner violence only looks one way. They picture obvious warning signs, visible injuries, or situations that seem dramatically different from their own. But what happens when the harm is subtle? When it shows up as constant self-doubt, walking on eggshells, losing trust in your own instincts, or slowly becoming someone you no longer recognize?In this powerful conversation, Marianne sits down with author, coach, speaker, and former CEO of RESOLVE of Greater Rochester, Alli O'Malley, to explore what intimate partner violence really looks like, why it can be so difficult to name, and what healing looks like after survival.Drawing from both her lived experience and decades of professional leadership in the domestic violence field, Alli shares insights into the hidden dynamics of abuse, the ways systems often fail survivors, and why healing requires more than simply escaping harm.Together, they discuss rebuilding self-trust, reclaiming identity, finding supportive community, and moving beyond a deficit-based view of recovery.Whether this conversation reflects your own experience or helps you better understand someone you love, it offers an honest, compassionate look at resilience, healing, and the possibility of thriving after trauma.Connect with Alli:Substack: https://alliomalley.substack.com/Website: https://www.thistlerise.com Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

What if the thing standing between you and the life you still want isn’t talent, timing, or confidence—but tenacity?In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with entrepreneur, creative director, and author Scott Scovill to explore what it really takes to keep going when fear, failure, and self-doubt tell you to stop.Scott’s story doesn’t follow a traditional path. He went from a struggling student who felt “broken” and paralyzed by fear of failure to building one of the most successful live video production companies in the music industry, working with artists like Garth Brooks, the Rolling Stones, and Luke Combs. And in his fifties, he discovered he could sing and stepped onto a stage in front of thousands.His message is simple but powerful: tenacity is not something you’re born with. It’s something you build.In this conversation, we explore: What fear of failure actually feels like and how it keeps people stuck  Why taking the first step changes everything  The difference between enduring a life and pursuing one that feels aligned  How to reconnect with your own dreams after years of meeting expectations  What it means to stay open to growth and reinvention in midlife If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to try something new, or questioned whether you still have it in you to go after what you want, this episode will challenge that belief.Connect with Scott: ScottScovill.comGet the Book: Tenacious: The Art of Relentlessly Pursuing Your Wildest Dreams Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

There’s a moment in midlife that many women recognize, even if they’ve never had the language for it.You’re no longer who you used to be… but you’re not fully who you’re becoming either.In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Dr. Sarah Andreas, artist, educator, and author of Step Into the Ether, to explore what she calls the identity gap. That in-between space where old identities begin to fall away and something new is quietly forming.Together, they unpack: What the identity gap actually feels like in real life  Why reinvention is not a one-time event, but a cycle  Sarah’s three-phase framework: Reveal, Render, and Rise The role of creativity and art in accessing deeper self-understanding  Why grief is often part of becoming someone new  How to stay grounded when you’re no longer who you were, but not yet who you’ll be This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and deeply validating for anyone navigating change, transition, or reinvention in midlife.If you’ve been feeling untethered, uncertain, or quietly evolving… this episode will help you make sense of where you are and remind you that there is nothing wrong with being in the middle.Connect with Sarah:  https://sarahandreas.com/https://www.soulzenstudio.com/resources Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

What if the answer isn’t to change everything… but to change just a few things that change everything?In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Dr. Michele Kehrer, business growth coach, entrepreneur, and four-time cancer survivor, to explore what it really means to find clarity in the middle of chaos.After building and selling a successful physical therapy practice in downtown Chicago, Michele now helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs and midlife women step out of constant decision-making and into focused, sustainable growth. But her work is deeply shaped by her personal journey through illness, loss, and reinvention.This conversation goes beyond business strategy. It is about identity, resilience, and learning how to move forward when life no longer looks the way you expected.Together, Marianne and Michele explore: The difference between being busy and being truly stuck  Why most women are focusing on the wrong things  How to find clarity in the middle of competing priorities  The emotional side of letting go, even when it is the right choice  What cancer taught Michele about time, energy, and what actually matters  How small mindset shifts can create meaningful, lasting change This episode will resonate with any woman navigating a season of change, whether in her health, career, relationships, or sense of self.Because sometimes the shift that saves your life is the same one that helps you rebuild it.Connect with Michele:https://www.instagram.com/balancemichele/https://www.facebook.com/michele.kehrerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michelekehrer/https://michelekehrer.com/ Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

There’s a moment many women reach in midlife where they realize something frustrating…They’ve done the work.They understand their patterns. They’ve processed their experiences. They can talk about their past with clarity and insight.And yet, something still feels stuck.In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with somatic psychotherapist and author Melanie Smithson to explore why insight alone doesn’t always create the healing we’re looking for—and what might be missing from the conversation.Melanie’s work centers on a powerful truth: the body holds what the mind tries to manage. And when we don’t fully release what we’ve experienced, it doesn’t disappear—it stays with us, showing up as tension, reactivity, and emotional patterns we don’t always understand.Together, they explore: Why understanding your story doesn’t always lead to change  How unprocessed grief and life transitions live in the body  What somatic work actually is—and how it differs from traditional approaches  Why so many of us struggle to let go (even when we want to)  Simple, accessible ways to begin reconnecting with the body  What it feels like when real release starts to happen This conversation is especially relevant for women navigating midlife transitions, grief, identity shifts, and the quiet frustration of feeling like they’ve done everything “right” but still don’t feel free.If you’ve ever wondered why awareness hasn’t created the shift you expected, this episode offers a new way to think about healing—one that moves beyond the mind and into the body.Connect with Melanie:  http://www.smithsonclinic.com/ Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

What happens when you wake up one day and realize your life doesn’t look the way you thought it would?In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Debbie Weiss, best-selling author, speaker, and host of the Maybe I Can podcast for a deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to change your life in midlife.After decades of caregiving, personal loss, infertility, and feeling defined by her circumstances, Debbie reached a turning point at 50. Not because her life suddenly became easier, but because she made a decision to stop waiting for things to change and start showing up differently.Together, Marianne and Debbie explore: What a “victim mindset” actually feels like in everyday life  How caregiving and self-sacrifice can quietly disconnect you from your identity  The emotional cost of taking full responsibility for your life  Why small, intentional changes can create powerful momentum  When “taking small steps” can actually become a form of avoidance  What separates women who move forward from those who stay stuck This conversation goes beyond surface-level inspiration and into the real, sometimes uncomfortable truth about change, identity, and what it means to reclaim your life after years of putting yourself last.If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to start over, this episode is a powerful reminder that it’s not.Connect with Debbie:  https://www.debbierweiss.com Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with therapist, relationships coach, and emotional safety expert Diane McDowell to explore a powerful reframe:What if the challenges in your relationships aren’t about communication or compatibility… but about emotional safety?Because when emotional safety is missing, everything changes.You can know the tools. You can have the awareness. You can want to respond differently.But in the moment, none of it seems to matter.That’s because when the nervous system goes into survival mode, the brain gets hijacked. Logic disappears. And we shift into protection instead of connection.Diane introduces her Brain-to-Heart Code™, a process designed to help you “turn on the safety switch” internally, so you’re no longer relying on someone else to create the conditions you need to feel secure.This conversation explores what it really means to feel safe within yourself, and how that changes everything about how you show up in your relationships.When safety is restored: You stop reacting from fear You stop second-guessing yourself in the moment You stop adjusting who you are just to maintain connectionAnd instead: You respond from clarity You communicate from truth And connection becomes steady, not something you have to earnIf you’ve ever felt exhausted in your relationships, or like you’re constantly managing how you show up, this episode offers a grounded and hopeful shift in perspective.Connect with Diane:  https://www.emotionalsafetyco.com/free-tools Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...

What does it actually mean to be in a good relationship with yourself? Not the version you perform for the world. Not the one built on how much you get done or how little you ask for. The one underneath all of that. The one that shapes how safe you feel in your own body, how you respond when things fall apart, and whether you extend even a fraction of the compassion to yourself which you so freely give to everyone else.In this episode of Message in the Middle, I'm joined by Kerisma Vere, holistic wellness coach, author, and founder of Towards Wellness Coaching. Kerisma's work is trauma-informed, deeply compassionate, and built from lived experience navigating trauma, mental health challenges, addiction, and the long, non-linear path back to self-trust. She is the author of The Light Switch Myth: Contemporary Approaches to Creating Lasting Change, the companion journal Ways I Showed Up for Myself, and the creator of the seven-module course From Pressure to Path: A Compassionate Framework for Change.In this episode we explore:Why our self-relationship is the foundation of quality of life and connection with others.The real link between self-worth and coping mechanisms like addictionWhat the 'light switch myth' reveals about how we've been taught to approach change.Why small acts of self-support often matter more than dramatic transformationThe practice of self-gratitude and what it means to acknowledge how you've shown up for yourselfThis episode is for the woman who has spent years caring for everyone else and is just beginning to ask what it might feel like to turn that care inward. You're not behind. You're not broken. And you're not alone.Connect with Kerisma Vere:Website: https://www.towardswellnesscoaching.ca Connect with Marianne:Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with MarianneSubscribe to Message In the Middle:Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in the Middle podcas...