Episodes

What if your dream career starts to destroy your well-being? Caroline Dowd-Higgins went from celebrated opera singer to burnout survivor—then rebuilt a new life of purpose, passion, and leadership after 50. In this episode of Aging With Purpose and Passion, we explore what happens when success stops working for you—and how to step into reinvention with clarity, courage, and joy. Caroline’s story is one of reinvention after burnout. Her award-winning opera career demanded perfection. But behin...

🚐 End-of-Life Caregiving Meets Viral Adventure When Ramie Liddle’s 90-year-old mother-in-law said, “I’m hitting the road,” they skipped chemo, grabbed the RV keys—and unintentionally launched Driving Miss Norma, a global movement that redefined aging, caregiving, and midlife reinvention. 🎧 If you're a caregiver or a woman over 50 craving a second-act adventure, don’t miss this story of courage, connection, and finding joy on the road less traveled. What if your biggest adventure began at 90? ...

What if love isn’t enough? One adoptive mom’s truth about trauma, healing, and parenting a child no one prepared her for. Adoption, trauma-informed parenting, and midlife motherhood collide in this powerful episode with Brighid O’Shaughnessy—licensed social worker, adoptive mom, and longtime mental health advocate. If you’re parenting through trauma, over 40 and navigating adoption, or working with vulnerable families, this conversation is a must. Brighid shares her story of adopting a toddler f...

She lost her wife, her mother—and still found healing. A story of grief, growth, and starting over. How do you rebuild your life after trauma, profound grief, and unimaginable loss? If you're a woman over 50 navigating trauma healing, grief recovery, or searching for spiritual transformation, this powerful conversation with Ann Jonas will meet you right where you are and gently guide you forward. Anne’s story begins in chaos: a narcissistic, suicidal father. Then the unthinkable—he shot and k...

Can you rebuild your life after abuse and betrayal at 50? Sophia Dias proves you can—and must. Sophia Dias shares her true survivor story, revealing how she escaped an abusive marriage, faced down a biased legal system, and started over in midlife with nothing. From fashion mogul to domestic abuse survivor, Sophia was left without access to funds, betrayed by those she trusted, and targeted by a husband who had a loaded gun pointed at her head. The emotional and financial abuse was devastatin...

Can introverted women over 50 reinvent their lives—and thrive without changing who they are? Absolutely—and Kimberly Jergen is living proof. In this inspiring episode of Aging With Purpose and Passion, Kimberly—an actor, speaker, and proud “Radiant Introvert”—shares how she transformed quiet self-doubt into authentic power using mindset, movement, and her signature ELEGANT coaching framework. We explore: How introverts can succeed without pretending to be extroverts. Why reinvention afte...

Think end-of-life planning is only for the wealthy? Here’s what every woman 50+ needs to know. End-of-life planninng for women over 50 isn't about wealth —it’s about clarity, care, and protecting what matters most. In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Sara Ecklein, a Licensed Professional Fiduciary and founder of Trust & Honor, to break down how estate planning without millions is not only possible—it’s essential. We explore: What a fiduciary actually does and how to protect your loved...

What happens when the "perfect" life you've built starts crumbling beneath your feet? At 50 years old, Christina L. Woods faced a life-altering reality—autoimmune issues, anxiety, and the breakdown of her 25-year marriage. Despite a successful corporate career, she couldn’t escape the truth she'd been hiding for years: deep-seated trauma stemming from childhood sexual abuse. In this emotional episode, Christina opens up about her journey from a childhood of sexual abuse to a life spent hiding...

Michelle Biship's incredible journney from trauma to transformation is a powerfful testament to the resilience and strength within us all. Born into a chaotic, abusive childhood with a mentally ill mother, Michelle’s "perfect" exterior life hid the deep emotional pain she endured. Struggling with anorexia as a young girl, Michelle’s early trauma set the stage for a life of self-discovery, healing, and growth. Despite overcoming many struggles, Michelle rose to become a six-figure earner in of...

How do you reclaim your future when you've lost everything at 50? From total financial loss to total empowerment—this is the comeback story every woman needs to hear. Sophia Dias shares her true survivor story, revealing how she escaped an abusive marriage, faced down a biased legal system, and started over in midlife with nothing. From fashion mogul to domestic abuse survivor, Sophia was left without access to funds, betrayed by those she trusted, and targeted by a husband who had a lo...

In this powerful episode, embodiment coach Toni Bergins shares how movement can serve as emotional medicine, helping us release trauma, pain, and repressed emotions stored in the body. Discover how JourneyDance Toni’s transformative dance practice, helps individuals heal by using movement to express what words cannot. Toni’s personal journey from emotional repression to liberation through dance offers deep insight into how childhood experiences led her to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including ...

Have you ever wondered if who you know matters more than what you know? This question lies at the heart of a transformative conversation with Janice Porter, a relationship marketing strategist who turned her teaching career into a thriving business built on connections. Janice’s journey—from elementary school teacher to LinkedIn specialist—offers valuable insights for anyone feeling stuck or uncertain about their next career chapter, especially midlife professionals considering a change. She sha...

What happens when life keeps pushing you to start over? For Wendy Alexander, every new beginning became an opportunity for transformation and growth. Wendy’s journey begins in apartheid South Africa, where an encounter with racial segregation at the age of seven sparked her passion for justice. That pivotal moment on the beach, when police removed her family from the "whites-only" sand, ignited a lifelong resistance against the status quo. This unwavering spirit fueled her resilience through yea...

Wondering if it’s too late to reinvent after 50? Dr. Alison Schmidt proves it’s not. In this inspiring episode, Alison—once a successful executive coach—shares how turning 50 and facing the COVID crisis pushed her to reimagine everything. From profit-driven consulting to purpose-driven leadership, she now helps others create midlife transformations that align with their deepest values. We explore: What it really takes to create reinvention after 50 How to break free from conventional exp...

In this inspiring episode of ''Aging With Purpose and Passion", Jenny Leigh Hodgins takes us on a transformative journey of healing and self-discovery through creativity. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, Jenny found refuge in music at a young age, using the piano as her emotional sanctuary. What began as a source of comfort became her life’s passion and career, leading her to become a composer, teacher, and creative empowerment coach. After discovering Buddhism in her twenties, Jenny gr...

What happens when trauma gets buried for fifteen years? Kim Langling's powerful journey from military sexual assault survivor to advocate and author shows us both the cost of silence and the liberation that comes with breaking it. Kim never planned to join the military when she was growing up in small-town America, but with limited options and no interest in college, she enlisted and quickly found herself thriving in military intelligence. Her life changed forever when she was sexually assau...

What if the secret to aging well isn’t found in anti-wrinkle creams or retirement plans, but in purpose, community, and perspective? Filmmaker Sky Bergman discovered this truth when she interviewed 40 elders aged 75+, gathering a collective wisdom of 3,000 years. Sky’s journey from a 30-year university teaching career to documentary filmmaking at midlife—sparked by her 100-year-old grandmother's active lifestyle—reveals how embracing change and purpose can transform the later years of life. Desp...

In this inspiring episode of Aging With Purpose and Passion , Caren Paskel shares her extraordinary transformation from a shy, anxious teenager to a woman of unshakable self-belief. Her journey began with yoga, a practice that sparked a spiritual awakening and became her anchor through life’s storms. When she met David—her soulmate and a bold dreamer 12 years her junior—Caren’s world expanded. Together, they built a life and businesses filled with purpose, defying doubts about their age gap. Fac...

Mary Beth O’Connor’s life is a gripping redemption story of addiction recovery and resilience. From surviving childhood abuse, sexual assault, and decades of methamphetamine addiction to achieving 30 years of sobriety as a federal court judge, her journey inspires women over 50 to find purpose and passion. In this Aging with Purpose and Passion podcast episode, O’Connor shares with Beverley Glazer the raw mechanics of transformation—how trauma fueled her dependency, starting with alcohol at 12 a...

Shelia Schneider's journey from military spouse to nonprofit leader reveals how our life experiences perfectly prepare us for unexpected purpose. Raised in a family where all nine siblings had military connections and later marrying an Air Force serviceman, Shelia intimately understood the challenges military families face—frequent relocations, year-long separations, and the struggle to maintain career continuity while supporting a service member. Her professional path was anything but linea...

What does it take to rebuild your life after unimaginable tragedy? Dr. Kimberly Harms knows this journey intimately. Born as a thalidomide baby with seven fingers, she defied an advisor who told her dental school was impossible, going on to become the first female president of the Minnesota Dental Association. But her greatest challenges came later – losing her mother to suicide, then facing her son Eric's suicide at just 19 years old. The moment that transformed her grief journey came unexpecte...

Step into a world where age is embraced, creativity flourishes, and women empower one another. In this enriching episode, Beverley Glazer talks with Jacqueline Perez (Jack), a gifted poet and founder of Kuel Life, who discovered her passion for poetry at the age of 60. With a backdrop of cultural challenges as a child of Cuban refugees, Jacqueline shares her journey of navigating life’s hurdles - from corporate dissatisfaction to the emotional turbulence of menopause. Jacqueline's candid reflect...

In this episode of Aging with Purpose and Passion , host Beverley Glazer welcomes Dawn Smith, a relationship and career transition coach who has embraced her ADHD and non-conformity to inspire others. Dawn shares her personal journey from feeling like a misfit to finding her purpose as a mentor and coach. This insightful conversation reveals how embracing authenticity can lead to deeper connections and more meaningful relationships. Dawn offers practical communication strategies, including the c...

In this empowering episode of Aging with Purpose and Passion, host Beverley Glazer sits down with financial expert Sherry Finkel Murphy, founder of Madrina Molly, to explore how women can take actionable steps towards financial security and financial independence at any age. Sherry challenges misconceptions about women and money, offering practical advice that helps foster confidence in financial planning and wellbeing. Together, they dive into: • Sherry’s journey into financial planning and emp...