Late Bloomer Living Podcast

So many of us arrive at midlife carrying parts of ourselves we've never quite made peace with. The shameful parts. The doubting parts. The ones we've spent years trying to fix, hide, or outrun. What if those parts aren't the problem — and accepting them is actually the key to feeling more free? That's the heart of my conversation this week with Dana Hilmer, coach, positive psychology practitioner, and founder of Wiser & Free. Dana brings a rare kind of honesty to this topic — not from a place of having it all figured out, but from genuinely doing the work herself. We talk about the two women who shaped her relationship with aging — her grandmother, who was "a basket of sunshine" right up to the end, and her mother, whose unlived life became Dana's most powerful lesson. We get into beliefs and how to change them, what your body has been trying to tell you, the difference between surrendering and giving up, and why gratitude sometimes needs a gentler on-ramp. Dana also shares something that stopped me in my tracks — the way she talks to her own chronic pain. It's one of the most radical acts of self-compassion I've heard on this show. And she closes with three words that I think a lot of us need to hear right now. Why not me? 🎁 Free workbook from Dana — no email required: wiserandfree.com/knowingyou   🌻 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/

Have you ever sat down to do your work and wondered… how does any of this matter right now? That question shaped this conversation. Before creativity consultant and author Melissa Dinwiddie and I even hit record, we found ourselves talking about something that didn’t fit neatly into a typical interview. With so much happening in the world, it can feel strangely difficult to focus on the work we care about — especially work related to creativity, play, and innovation. Melissa is the author of the new book Innovation at Work, which explores how experimentation, curiosity, and small creative risks can help teams generate ideas and solve problems. But in this conversation, we go deeper than business or leadership. We talk about what it means to keep creating when the world feels heavy. In this episode we explore: why fear and uncertainty often shut down creativity • how perfectionism keeps people from starting anything at all • the surprising power of small creative experiments • why joy and creativity can actually be forms of resistance • and how community and connection help us stay engaged instead of shutting down Melissa also shares a personal story about rediscovering her own creativity after years of feeling blocked — and how a simple 15-minute daily practice changed everything. If you’ve been feeling the tension between wanting to contribute something meaningful and feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, you’re not alone. This conversation is a reminder that play and creativity aren’t escapism — they’re fuel.   🌻 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/

The world feels heavy right now.   In this conversation with award-winning filmmaker Sky Bergman, we explore how storytelling — especially across generations — can remind us that we’re not alone.   Sky shares what she learned while filming The Jollytologist®, her new documentary about humorist Allen Klein, and reflects on why humor, curiosity, and connection matter even more in difficult seasons.   We talk about grief and laughter, empathy in divided times, and the simple but radical power of listening to each other’s stories.   If you’ve been feeling the weight of the world… this one is for you. *And be sure to listen to last week's episode with the Jollytologist® himself, Allen Klein.  I guarantee you'll feel better.    🌻 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/

Grief and joy are not opposites. In this episode, I’m joined by Allen Klein — known as “The Jollytologist” — for a deeply human conversation about loss, resilience, and the surprising role humor can play in hard seasons of life. After his wife’s three-year battle with a rare liver disease, Allen found himself navigating profound grief while raising their 10-year-old daughter. In the midst of hospital rooms and uncertainty, something unexpected kept showing up: laughter. We talk about: The hospital moment that reshaped his understanding of grief Why humor can be healing — even in hospice Getting kicked out of Yale Drama School (and why it turned out to be a gift) The power of play, perspective, and choosing how we respond Allen’s life and work are now the subject of a new documentary, The Jollytologist, directed by Sky Bergman. In our next episode, I’ll be speaking with Sky about the making of the film and why this story feels especially relevant right now. There will also be an upcoming online screening before the film heads to festivals — I’ll be sharing details as soon as registration opens. This isn’t a conversation about pretending everything is fine. It’s about holding sorrow and joy at the same time — and discovering that sometimes laughter isn’t denial… it’s relief. If you’re navigating loss, transition, or simply wondering how to stay open and playful in a complicated world, I hope this episode brings you comfort.

It’s National Heart Month. And if loneliness affects the heart as much as research suggests… we need to widen the conversation. When we talk about heart health, we usually focus on cholesterol, steps per day, and cardio routines. All important. But what about the relational side of heart health? In this solo episode of Late Bloomer Living, Yvonne Marchese explores how midlife transitions — parenting adult children, career pivots, menopause, divorce, retirement, grief, and reinvention — can quietly shift our sense of belonging. Because you can feel lonely even in a crowded room. Drawing from her own recent experience of losing a dear friend, Yvonne reflects on how meaningful conversations, community, and play helped soften grief and metabolize the heaviness of the world. She weaves in research from: U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who has called loneliness a public health crisis Harvard psychologist Dr. Ellen Langer on the mind–body connection Yale researcher Dr. Becca Levy on how beliefs about aging impact longevity and cardiovascular stress This episode also explores: Why loneliness isn’t just emotional — it’s biological How chronic self-criticism activates stress in the body Why self-care is more than bubble baths If you’re navigating a season of identity shift and craving deeper belonging — with others and with yourself — this conversation is for you.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, this episode offers a reminder that love doesn’t only live in romance — it also lives in friendship, shared purpose, and meaningful connection. In this conversation, Yvonne sits down with Gail Zelitsky and Catherine Marienau, co-hosts of the podcast, Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined, to talk about how a friendship formed later in life grew into a powerful creative partnership. Gail and Catherine share their individual paths — from unexpected reinvention and advocacy work to mentoring women returning to school later in life — and how their shared values eventually led them to build a platform amplifying the voices of women in their 70s, 80s, and beyond. Together, they explore what it means to form deep friendships later in life, why collaboration looks different as we age, and how purpose and possibility don’t disappear with time — they often deepen. This episode is part 2 of a series highlighting women who found friendship later in life and turned it into something meaningful. Gail and Catherine aren’t just talking about what’s possible after 70 — they’re living it.

Midlife has a way of surfacing questions many women have carried quietly for years — about identity, desire, change, and who they’re becoming now. In this episode, Yvonne is joined by writers and editors Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez, co-editors of Midlife Private Parts, a deeply honest anthology that reflects the many ways women experience midlife. Together, they explore what happens when women stop editing themselves and start telling the truth — about reinvention, menopause, friendship, pleasure, invisibility, grief, creativity, and growth. This conversation is a reminder that midlife isn’t something to get through or fix — it’s something to inhabit fully. If you’ve ever felt unsure, stuck, or quietly wondered if you were alone in how you’re feeling… this episode is for you.  

The Real Reason You Keep Saying Yes When You Mean No - And What to Do About It   Many women spend decades being the reliable one — the helper, the fixer, the one who always says yes. Somewhere along the way, it can start to feel exhausting… and a little confusing. In this episode of Late Bloomer Living, I’m joined by returning guest Wendy Perrotti, a master-level certified coach, speaker, and author who helps women over 50 create what’s next in their lives. Together, we explore why people pleasing isn’t a personality flaw — it’s a coping strategy shaped by culture, values, and a desire to feel safe and needed.   We talk about: Why overgiving often feels so hard to let go of How thought patterns keep people-pleasing in place What healthy boundaries actually look like (and why they don’t have to feel harsh) Why midlife is such a powerful moment for reclaiming yourself How play and experimentation can gently guide reinvention Wendy also shares the story behind her new book, Keep the Tomato — a grown-up picture book for people pleasers — and how learning to “keep a few tomatoes for yourself” can change everything. If you’ve been feeling tired of always being the one who gives, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and permission to begin choosing yourself again.

Why trying something scary can unlock your next chapter What happens when you give yourself permission to be a beginner again — in midlife? In this episode of Late Bloomer Living, Yvonne Marchese is joined by her friend Marc Ronick for a candid conversation about play, fear, and reinvention. After more than 20 years in podcasting, Marc decided to try something that genuinely scared him: improv classes. What began as a way to stretch his skills as a live podcaster quickly became a powerful personal practice — helping him loosen perfectionism, reconnect with play, and navigate a challenging season of growth in his 50s. Together, Yvonne and Marc talk about: What it’s really like to walk into a room as a beginner later in life How improv helped Marc show up more fully — on the mic and in life Building a generous, supportive community through The Podcasting Morning Chat Producing a podcasting conference for the first time in midlife Why passion has to be bigger than fear if we want to grow This episode is a reminder that play isn’t frivolous, being scared doesn’t mean you’re wrong, and midlife may be the perfect time to let go of the script and try something new.

What if curiosity isn’t just something we feel — but something we choose?   In this thoughtful conversation, Yvonne sits down with Lynn Borton, host of Choose to Be Curious, to explore how curiosity can help us slow down, soften anxiety, and reconnect with a sense of wonder. Together, they talk about choosing curiosity over fear, embracing not-knowing, and why staying curious might be one of the most powerful practices for navigating midlife and an uncertain world.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m too old to wear that” — or noticing how easy it is to slowly disappear in midlife? In this special holiday replay from Salty Sisters, the livestream I cohost with my friend Cat Corchado, we’re joined by the incredible Jennifer Polt, founder of Making Up for Glossed Time and a two-time guest on Late Bloomer Living. Yes, this conversation starts with style — sequins, leopard print, metallic boots, and holiday outfits — but it quickly becomes something much deeper — and relevant all year long. Jennifer isn’t really talking about clothes.  She’s talking about permission. Permission to play. Permission to take up space. Permission to stop dressing — and living — like you’re trying to disappear. Together, Cat, Jennifer, and I explore what happens in midlife when roles shift, confidence wobbles, and we’re quietly asking ourselves, Is this all there is? We talk about style as self-expression, confidence as a practice, and how small choices — even what you put on your body — can help you reconnect with who you’re becoming. This episode is for anyone navigating midlife, or a season of reinvention — and wanting to feel a little more alive, expressive, and at home in their own skin. ✨ If this conversation sparks something in you and you want to explore playfulness beyond your closet, you can join the PLAYshop waitlist at latebloomerliving.com/play. Go put on something that makes you feel good. And remember — you’re not done yet.

How Play Is Helping Me Feel Alive Again   Do you ever feel like all the fun got squeezed out of adulthood? Like the to-do lists and responsibilities have taken over and there’s no energy left for joy? In this short solo episode, I’m sharing my Midlife Joy Experiment — my personal journey of bringing more play back into my life in my fifties. From learning to dance on roller skates (yes, I broke my elbow and yes, I’ll be back on them!) to discovering new ways to feel free and creative while I heal, this exploration has been surprising, healing, and downright fun. I’m not a play expert — this is a real-life experiment in what helps us feel alive again. And I hope it inspires you to reconnect with your own joy, curiosity, and sense of playfulness… even in small ways. ✨ Want to go deeper? Join the waitlist for the Unlocking Playfulness PLAYshop: https://www.latebloomerliving.com/play  If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who could use a spark of joy today. Let me know…. What’s one thing that makes you feel alive again?

What would happen if you finally said yes to the thing you’ve been dreaming about for years?   In this episode, Yvonne talks with award-winning novelist and creativity coach Beth Barany, who is stepping into a bold new creative chapter. At 50+, Beth is becoming a first-time filmmaker as she turns her fantasy adventure novel, Henrietta the Dragon Slayer, into a proof-of-concept short film — the first step toward a potential TV series.   Beth shares the true behind-the-scenes story of a dream nearly two decades in the making: ✨ The moment she dared to say her dream out loud ✨ Why she decided not to wait for Hollywood ✨ How she built a filmmaking team without previous experience ✨ The power of curiosity to guide your next step ✨ What it feels like to finally see her character come to life on screen ✨ Why our most exciting reinventions often happen in midlife If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “too old” to start something new — this conversation is your reminder that you are right on time. You don’t need permission. You get to greenlight yourself.   🔗 Learn more about Beth’s project: https://author.bethbarany.com/henrietta-short-film/ 🌼 Want more play and joy in your life? Join the PLAYshop waitlist: https://www.latebloomerliving.com/play 

Gratitude Feeling Forced? Try This Instead.   This Thanksgiving, I’m trying a little experiment. Instead of forcing gratitude, I’m approaching the holiday like a game—using appreciation to see people as they really are, not as I wish they’d be. In this episode, I share the simple appreciation practices I’m playing with, why I think they’ll make the day feel lighter, and how you can try them too. I also invite you to check out last week’s episode about the difference between gratitude and appreciation, and to join the PLAYshop waitlist if you want more curiosity, creativity, and ease in your everyday life. Sign up at https://www.latebloomerliving.com/play

If Your Gratitude List Feels Stale, You’re Not Alone   We’re often told that gratitude is the answer to everything — write a list, feel better, repeat. But what happens when the list doesn’t change a thing? In this solo episode, I share a personal moment that cracked open a new understanding for me about gratitude, appreciation, and the way our minds work when we’re overwhelmed. Instead of trying to force myself into feeling grateful, I stumbled into a different approach that helped me reconnect with the present moment in a much more honest, grounded way.   This isn’t an episode about toxic positivity or pretending everything’s fine. It’s about noticing what’s real, finding small openings when you feel stuck, and learning how appreciation can quietly shift your emotional state in ways gratitude sometimes can’t.   You’ll hear: ✨ Why gratitude practices sometimes fall flat ✨ The surprising mindset shift that softened my “dark cloud” morning ✨ How appreciation can help you feel more present and less pressured ✨ A simple experiment you can try this week (no journaling required)   Whether you’re navigating holiday stress, feeling overwhelmed, or just craving a gentler way to support your own well-being, this episode offers a compassionate invitation to slow down and reconnect with what’s right in front of you.   Tune in, try the experiment, and see what opens. 🌼 Bloom like you mean it.

What if the key to more joy, creativity, and confidence in midlife isn’t mastery — it’s dabbling?   Author and speaker Karen Walrond (Radiant Rebellion, The Lightmaker’s Manifesto) joins Yvonne Marchese to talk about her newest book, In Defense of Dabbling: The Brilliance of Being a Total Amateur.   Together, they explore how curiosity, play, and self-compassion can help us reconnect with wonder — and why embracing our inner beginner might be the most radical act of joy we can choose.   Tune in for a refreshing conversation about letting go of perfectionism, rediscovering creativity, and learning to love the process again.   🌻 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 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! 🛼 💥  

Have you ever caught yourself asking questions like, “Why can’t I get ahead?” or “Why do I always mess things up?” I sure have — and those questions kept me stuck for years.   In this short solo episode, I’m sharing how I discovered the power of asking better questions — and how that simple shift changed my life. From giving up complaining for Lent (spoiler: it was way harder than chocolate!) to learning how my thoughts were shaping my reality, I found a way to train my brain to look for solutions instead of problems.   We’ll talk about: ✨ Why your brain always answers the questions you ask it ✨ How to flip disempowering questions into empowering ones ✨ Simple ways to shift your mindset and get unstuck at any age   Whether you’re in midlife, over 50, or just ready for a fresh start, this episode is all about reclaiming your curiosity, reframing your thinking, and blooming again — right where you are.   If this message resonates, share it with a friend who might need a reminder that it’s never too late to ask a better question.

What if finding your voice didn’t happen in your 20s — but in your 50s?   This week, I’m talking with Molly Lee, founder of Optimistic Soap, who discovered activism — and her own courage to speak up — later in life. What began as a creative hobby making soap to unwind after work became something much bigger: a way to fundraise, build community, and take action for the causes she believes in.   Molly’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to step into your power. She shares how the 2016 Women’s March sparked her inner activist, what it means to live with optimism in hard times, and why hope is anything but naïve.   We talk about: Finding your voice and purpose later in life Turning creativity into a tool for change How optimism can be a radical act Staying engaged without losing heart   If you’ve ever felt like it’s “too late” to make a difference — this conversation will change your mind.   🌻 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! 🛼 💥

Growth rarely feels graceful in the moment. Sometimes it looks like screw-ups, bloopers, and figuring it out in public. This episode is about embracing the messy middle.   Have you ever jumped into something new and realized halfway through that you were completely figuring it out as you went? That was me at the Empowered Podcasting Conference — my first podcasting event, my first time speaking live, and my first attempt at creating video content for both YouTube and the podcast.   Things didn’t go exactly as planned (spoiler: there were bloopers), but what came out of it was a weekend full of laughter, learning, and connection.   This episode isn’t really about podcasting — it’s about what happens when you let yourself try anyway. It’s about showing up before you feel ready, letting curiosity lead, and discovering that community makes all the difference.   If you’ve been hesitating to take that next step — to start something new, share your story, or push past your comfort zone — consider this your nudge.   🌻 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! 🛼 💥