When life throws storms our way, we often think we’re at our breaking point. But what if the storm is the very place, we discover our truest, strongest selves? In this episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with Felicity Ashley, adventurer, mother of three, cancer survivor, former corporate marketer, and motivational speaker, to explore resilience, courage, and the power of saying yes to impossible dreams. Felicity’s story is extraordinary. She set out with three other moms to row ...

What if the bravest thing you’ll ever do isn’t leaping out of a helicopter, but allowing yourself to truly be seen? In this powerful episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with Angie Hawkins, an Inner Glow Coach and author of Running in Slippers. After 20 years in Corporate America, Angie traded her high-powered IT Finance Operations career for a mission to help high-achieving women stop chasing approval and start radiating fierce confidence. Angie’s journey is raw, real, and deeply rel...

Have you ever felt like there’s something more calling you, something deeper, more aligned, more you? If you’ve spent years showing up for everyone else and are now facing a quiet inner nudge that’s hard to ignore, this conversation is for you. In this episode of Message in the Middle, I’m joined by transformational coach Anna Quigley, who has spent over 30 years studying neuroscience, quantum mind-body tools, and sensory imagination. Anna believes that intuition isn’t just a mystical concept...

Healing our relationship with food, our body, and ourselves is rarely a straight line. In this eye-opening episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with journalist, author, and educator Mallary Tenore Tarpley to explore the often-overlooked “messy middle” of eating disorder recovery. Mallary’s new book, Slip, blends personal memoir with investigative reporting to reveal why recovery is rarely a straight path and how neurobiology, genetics, and lived experience all play a role. If ...

Midlife often brings big transitions, changes in identity, priorities, relationships, and even our own sense of self. But what if the biggest challenge isn’t the circumstances around us, but the stories we tell ourselves about them? In this episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with Cheryl Fischer, speaker, trainer, event moderator, host of the Mind Your Midlife podcast, and certified Life and Mindset Coach. Cheryl works with women to shift the inner narrative from “I’m stuck” or “I’m ...

Midlife brings so many shifts—children leaving home, aging parents, career changes, identity shifts, and layered on top of it all, grief in its many forms. Sometimes it’s the loss of a loved one, and other times it’s the ache of realizing life looks different than we imagined. In this episode of Message in the Middle, I’m joined by Jane Dye, a registered nurse, board-certified holistic health coach, and certified grief educator. With more than 30 years of nursing practice, much of it in psych...

What if aging wasn’t about decline, but about becoming more fully yourself? In this episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with bestselling author and leadership coach Erika Andersen to talk about what it really means to age well—and how we can begin preparing for a vibrant “third act” of life long before we get there. Erika has spent more than 30 years guiding senior leaders at companies like Spotify, Amazon, and Charter through deep transformation. Now, in her seventies, she’s turning...

Have you ever felt like your own mind is working against you? That no matter how much you want to change, old patterns and doubts keep pulling you back? In this episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with educator, entrepreneur, and author Mitch Weisburgh to talk about his new book MindShifting: Stop Your Brain from Sabotaging Your Happiness and Success. Mitch has spent decades helping people and organizations learn, grow, and adapt and now he’s sharing practical tools to help us do the...

If you’ve spent years counting calories, restricting foods, or shaming yourself for not having the “perfect” body, you’re not alone. For so many women, especially in midlife, the relationship with food and body image can feel like an exhausting tug-of-war. But what if the way out isn’t about more willpower or stricter rules? What if it’s about relearning how to trust yourself? In this episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with Joanne Edinberg, Certified Eating Psychology Coach and foun...

If you’ve been feeling the weight of the world lately, wondering how we got here, why everything feels so divided, or how to reconnect to yourself in a culture that seems more disconnected than ever, this episode offers a thoughtful, healing perspective. In this soulful and timely conversation, Marianne sits down with Phyllis Leavitt, a seasoned psychotherapist, spiritual seeker, and author of America in Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis. Drawing from more tha...

What if the words you speak could shape your reality and what if the key to moving forward was simply refusing to quit on your hardest days? In this empowering episode of Message in the Middle, I’m joined by Hall of Fame athlete, award-winning entrepreneur, and bestselling author Phebe Trotman. As the powerhouse behind the Never Quit on a Bad Day book series, Phebe shares her deeply personal philosophy on resilience, the transformative power of intentional language, and what it really means t...

In this episode of Message in the Middle, we’re diving into the often-overwhelming world of career change and job search strategy. I’m joined by Amy Adler, president of Five Strengths Career Transition Experts and a nationally recognized expert in resume writing and career positioning. With credentials like Certified Master Resume Writer, Certified Executive Resume Master, and Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert, Amy brings the perfect mix of strategy and heart to career transition. Sh...

Have you ever felt exhausted for no clear reason? Struggled with anxiety that seems to come out of nowhere? Or found yourself wondering why, despite doing all the “right” things, you still don’t feel like you? If so, this episode of Message in the Middle might shine a light on a hidden factor that could change everything. Marianne is joined by Natalie Jurado, a certified magnesium expert and the founder of Rooted In, a wellness brand focused on helping women reclaim their energy, clarity, and...

Ever feel like you’re running on empty while trying to keep it all together? You’re not alone — and you’re not broken. In this episode of Message in the Middle, I’m joined by Jenny Evans — global speaker, author, and expert in the chemistry of stress, confidence, and performance. Jenny breaks down what’s really happening in your body when you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or soul-tired — and how resilience isn’t just a mindset, it’s a biological skill you can train. We explore: Why so m...

Have you ever felt like something in your life is out of alignment, but the thought of making a change feels overwhelming—or even a little terrifying? You’re not alone. In this episode of Message in the Middle, host Marianne talks with executive coach and leadership consultant Rachel Burr, who has spent more than 20 years helping people navigate the messy middle of growth and transformation. Together, they explore the fear that often shows up at the edge of change, the damaging belief that we...

In this heartfelt episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with mindfulness teacher, caregiver, and dementia advocate Jessica Smith for a conversation that lives at the intersection of presence, purpose, and deep compassion. For over two decades, Jessica has studied and practiced awareness-based meditation under the guidance of renowned spiritual teachers like Ram Dass, Sharon Salzberg, and Michael Singer. But it’s her personal journey as a long-distance caregiver for her mother, ...

What happens when your world begins to go dark — literally — before you’ve even hit your teenage years? In this powerful episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with author, speaker, and resilience coach Laura Bratton, who was just nine years old when she learned she would lose her sight. Laura’s story is not just about blindness — it’s about vision. Vision for what’s possible, even when life takes an unexpected turn. From navigating a decade-long transition to blindness to becoming the ...

In this deeply moving and hopeful episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with Dr. Greg Nelson—an executive leadership coach, speaker, and writer who’s spent over two decades guiding others through change, identity, and purpose. But now, Greg is navigating the most personal change of his life: a 2024 diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, alongside a battle with lymphoma. Rather than retreating into silence, Greg has chosen to share his journey out loud, with honesty, vulnerabilit...

In this insightful episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with the incredibly knowledgeable Dr. Christine Boev to tackle the most common midlife health questions women are asking right now. Whether you're navigating perimenopause or menopause, feeling drained of energy, struggling to lose weight, or just looking for ways to feel the best you can feel, this conversation is packed with practical tips and science-backed insight to support you on your journey. Dr. Boev brings a unique persp...

In this transformative episode of Message in the Middle, I’m joined by Tara Wiskow, an intuitive energy healer and life reinvention expert who’s helping women break free from the patterns that keep them small—self-abandonment, self-sabotage, and people-pleasing. After naturally losing 220 pounds and healing through layers of emotional pain, Tara has made it her mission to empower women to rise into their most authentic, powerful selves. Through her She Rises program, Tara guides women to unra...