What if joy and confidence in midlife come not from mastery, but from dabbling? Author Karen Walrond joins Yvonne to talk about In Defense of Dabbling and how curiosity, play, and self-compassion help us rediscover wonder — and the freedom to be beginners again.

What happens when you say yes to fun?   This week, I’m joined by my good friend Adam Rothenberg, creator of the entertainment platform Call Me Adam, for a joyful conversation about curiosity, courage, and play. When Adam found himself at a children’s birthday party, he and one other adult decided to join the kids rock climbing and ziplining—and it turned into a reminder of what we lose when we forget how to play.   We talk about facing fears, staying curious, and how a playful mindset keeps us creative, confident, and young at heart. 💛 Tune in and discover the surprising power of saying yes to fun.   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥  

What if the key to getting unstuck isn’t doing more, but asking better questions? Let’s talk about the power of reframing.

Soapmaker and activist Molly Lee found her voice — and her courage — later in life. She shares how optimism, creativity, and action helped her turn a simple hobby into a platform for hope and change.

Trying something new at any age takes courage. Here’s what happens when you embrace the messy middle and grow through it.

Life after 50 isn’t over—it’s just beginning. Lisa Murphy on mindset shifts, sobriety, and finding joy in midlife.

Lessons on staying vibrant, curious, and playful at any age.   Midlife isn’t an ending—it’s an opening. In this episode, we explore how to embrace possibility, purpose, and play no matter your age. My guest, Wendy Green, shares how she learned to start before she was ready, push past self-doubt, and build community through her work with Boomer Banter and the Age Wise Collaborative. Together, we talk about flipping the script on aging, listening for the quiet voice that reminds you what you love, and why reinvention isn’t about changing who you are—it’s about remembering yourself. Whether you’re in a life transition, feeling stuck, or simply craving inspiration for your next chapter, this conversation will remind you: you are never done.   *Episode 243   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥  

Rob the Maritimer shares lessons from starting YouTube after 40—fear, authenticity & reinvention that go far beyond the screen.

Who says aging means slowing down? Jacqueline Hooton is here to bust ageist myths and show how strength training can help you stay powerful, confident, and unstoppable at any age. In this inspiring conversation, fitness expert and author Jacqueline Hooton shares how we can challenge ageist stereotypes, overcome internalized ageism, and build lasting strength—physically, mentally, and emotionally. From the power of strength training to expanding your healthspan, Jacqueline shows why it’s never too late to take charge of your well-being and live vibrantly in midlife and beyond.   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥    

Season 6 kicks off with Yvonne Marchese reflecting on a summer of unexpected change—from a family health scare to becoming an empty nester. In this solo episode, she shares why this tender, transitional time is inspiring a fresh look at joy, reinvention, and what it means to bloom in midlife.   She also reveals her bold leap into YouTube and invites you to be part of shaping this season. Got a question or story to share? Leave a message at latebloomerliving.com/podcast.   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥 You can also join the Age Agitators Club for more fun and inspiration as we navigate midlife together. Find out more at https://www.latebloomerliving.com/

This week, I’m bringing back a listener's favorite from the archive while I’m on a summer break, getting ready for Season 6. Lynn McNutt joined me for a powerful conversation about caregiving, grief & creative reinvention. This one’s just as relevant now as it was then.  This episode originally aired as Episode 78 on December 22, 2021.   Sometimes you just need to Walk it off Lynn McNutt is an actor, singer, mover, creator, writer, wanderer, and wayfarer. Lynn has over twenty five years of experience as a professional actress and singer working in national tours, Off-Broadway, and a bevy of regional theaters. In her 40s she ended up taking several years of time away from her performing career to act as a caregiver for her father, mother and cousin.  After her father died, she found herself needing to walk off the stress and grief, so she embarked on a solo backpacking expedition on the Florida Trail. She taught Shakespeare and Music Theatre in the MFA program at Florida Atlantic University. For her second act, Lynn is creating her own works, delving into the world of solo-performance telling stories, connecting ideas, and shedding new light on old ones.   Get more information about Lynn McNutt.  There are productions and more adventures planned for the future! Follow Lynn on Instagram.   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥  

What if getting older was your invitation to play harder, lift heavier, and dance more freely? In this replay from the Late Bloomer Living vault, I’m joined by Mimi Ison — a fierce pro-aging advocate and the radiant energy behind @heymiddleage. Mimi discovered boxing in her 50s and keeps fitness fun with shuffle dancing and strength training. Her approach to movement is joyful, stylish, and totally unapologetic — and her message is clear: aging doesn’t mean giving up on your body. It means discovering new ways to love it. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by fitness culture or wondered how to stay strong as you age, Mimi’s story will remind you that strength and fun are not mutually exclusive — and they’re definitely not just for the young. 🎧 Originally aired as Episode 187 of Late Bloomer Living.

What if parenting doesn’t end when your kids turn 18 — it just evolves?This week’s summer replay from the Late Bloomer Living vault features parenting coach Kim Muench, who shares what it really takes to navigate the messy, beautiful work of parenting young adults. We talk about identity, boundaries, letting go, and how midlife offers a chance to rethink not just how we support our kids — but how we show up for ourselves. If you’re in the “what now?” phase of parenting, this one’s for you.🎧 Originally aired as Episode 182 — and it’s still one of our most listened-to conversations.

This week, I’m bringing back a listener's favorite from the archive while I’m on a summer break. Deirdre Wolownick joined me for a powerful conversation about courage and pushing past boundaries. This one’s just as relevant now as it was then.  This episode originally aired as Episode 111 on September 28, 2022.   Everything is a choice. Dierdre Wolownick is an accomplished woman who speaks 8 languages, is a professor, published author and speaker, plays several instruments, founded and conducted the West Sacramento Orchestra. This is just the tip of the iceberg. She raised 2 ultra athletes, but never thought of herself as an athlete. Funny enough, a simple walk with her dog and conversation with her son, Alex Honnold, changed her life.  At 55, she began running, and has since done marathons, half-marathons and other races. At 59, she began rock climbing, and at 66, she became the oldest woman to climb Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan. Last year, she celebrated her 70th birthday by going up El Cap again and camping on the summit. Whenever we feel that fear that’s stopping us from getting what we want we can remind ourselves that our reaction to that fear is a choice… and that we never climb the mountain all at once… we do it 3 feet at a time… Babysteps are the key to doing anything you want to do. 🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥  

This week, I’m bringing back a listener's favorite from the archive while I’m on a summer break, getting ready for Season 6. Jennifer Polt Robinson  joined me for a powerful conversation about self worth and reinvention. This one’s just as relevant now as it was then. This episode originally aired as Episode 92 on April 6, 2022.   An Accidental Influencer When I stumbled upon this weeks’ guest on Instagram I fell in love with her.. and I fell hard!    Her name is Jen Robinson, and I have a feeling you’re going to fall in love with her, too.  She is equal parts motivational speaker, beauty expert, style coach and comedian.   After turning 50 this year and being constantly discouraged by the messages projected to women over 40, Jen set her intentions toward creating social media “playgrounds” that celebrate women. Not your daughter’s blogger, Jen shares beauty and style tips from low end to luxe that are both accessible and hilarious. You will often find her rocking a CHANEL crossbody with her favorite thrifted camo jacket and scoffing at the notion of “age appropriateness.” She’ll have you convinced that leopard print is INDEED a neutral, a pop of neon can amplify any outfit, and that the right coat can take your look from average to amazing—all while extolling the virtues of an oversized handbag (“a big bag makes your ass look smaller.”) A curator of all things fabulous—you can count on Jen to deliver the answers to your beauty and style questions with genuine honesty and her trademark sense of humor. Jen’s individuality is her superpower and she’s on a mission to help you find yours. If you want to learn more about Jen Robinson, get her style tips and follow her shameless antics, the best place to find her is on Instagram.

Making Space for Growth, Rest, and Reinvention It’s the end of Season 5, and I’m pressing pause to make space for family, rest, and some big creative plans. In this episode, I’m reflecting on the lessons of midlife, the importance of taking breaks, and what’s coming next for Late Bloomer Living—including the launch of my new YouTube channel in September! While I’m on break, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite past episodes as replays every other week, so there’s still plenty of inspiration coming your way.   👉 Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel at youtube.com/@LateBloomerLiving so you’re the first to know when new content drops this fall. See you in September for Season 6!

What happens when midlife grief, identity shifts, and 3 a.m. wake-ups collide? For Jacqueline Perez, it led to an unexpected creative awakening. In this episode, Jack shares how a personal journaling practice turned into a 30-day poetry challenge—and eventually, a self-published book. We talk about the healing power of creativity, the emotional weight of the empty nest, and why taking imperfect action can change everything.   We talk about creativity, healing, identity shifts, and the power of following an instinct even when you don’t know where it’s leading. If you’ve ever felt like you were coming undone—or becoming something new—this conversation is for you.   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥

This Is What Reinvention Really Looks Like! When Jennifer Polt walked away from her high-level corporate job to become a full-time influencer and confidence coach, she had a plan. What she didn’t plan for? Her husband leaving just three weeks later. In this honest, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation, Jen—known online as Making Up for Glossed Time—shares the full arc of her midlife reinvention. From starting her platform during the pandemic to navigating heartbreak, launching her coaching business, and dancing in sequins for millions online, she’s built a brand rooted in self-expression, style, and substance—and she’s not afraid to show the messy middle. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to reinvent yourself after 50, this episode is for you.   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥

How to Be More Playful in Midlife What if being a responsible adult actually meant making more time for joy?   In celebration of the International Day of Play, Yvonne is joined by professor and TED speaker Tabitha Dell’Angelo for a deep, energizing conversation about why play isn’t just for kids—and why it’s never too late to rediscover your playful side.   They explore how laughter lowers stress, why curiosity is a superpower, and what it means to “accept the offer” in everyday life. From classroom stories to roller skates to improv, this episode is packed with thoughtful insights on how play can transform how we live, work, and connect—especially in midlife and beyond.   Whether you’re already embracing fun or need a gentle nudge to loosen the grip of grind culture, this one’s for you.   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥    

Five years. Over 200 conversations. One big realization: It’s never too late.   After five years of hosting the Late Bloomer Living Podcast, I’ve had a front-row seat to hundreds of stories of reinvention, resilience, and playful transformation—and let me tell you, I’ve learned a lot. In this special solo episode, I’m sharing my biggest takeaways about aging, ageism, play, and the messy, beautiful process of figuring things out as you go. You’ll also hear a short montage of past guest voices—some of my all-time favorites—whose words still ring in my ears. If you’re wondering whether it’s too late to try something new, trust yourself more, or bloom in a whole new direction… this one’s for you. 🎧 Plus, I’ll let you in on a few personal surprises, what’s changed in me since hitting record for the first time, and why I believe reinvention isn’t about changing who you are—it’s about changing how you see yourself.   🌻 If you’re feeling inspired, I’d love for you to share your thoughts about this episode on social media and tag me @latebloomerliving.   🌻Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode!    🌻 Need a little more FUN in your life? Come to The PLAYshop!  Sign up for the waitlist and get in on the fun! 🛼 💥