Midlife Madness

Today, the Marie and Leslie sit down with Chrissy Hofbeck, one of Leslie's friends and a fellow-past Survivor Contestant (and member of the "Mom-Squad") who has written a book called Winning Conditions: How to Achieve the Professional Success You Deserve by Managing the Details that Matter.  This is a very good, very informative interview. If you've ever struggled with getting ahead, understanding other people, or even presenting yourself in a more positive light, you don't want to miss this episode! Plus - if you are Survivor fan - you will get some really great insight into how Chrissy played the game (and came in SECOND place!). 

Do you have any fears that hold you back in life? Today's podcast talks about fear and how to face it. With real-life examples and a bit of research, the sisters share some of the fears that they have faced (and some that still hold them back!). They also discuss Halloween memories and even touch on convictions you may have about this controversial day. Grab your coffee - and let's chat! 

How are your boundaries? Do you know how important boundaries are? Join Leslie & Marie for a very real and honest discussion about Boundaries on this week's episode!

After taking the summer off, we're back! This week we just spend some time catching up and letting you know how we've spent our summer off. We chat about things we've learned, how we've made it through COVID summer and what has happened with us. Come spend a few minutes with us hanging out and just being real about our victories and struggles over the past few months! We are so excited to be back and look forward to hanging out with you every other Monday for Season 2 of Midlife Madness Podcast!

Do you get annoyed on the road? Do you lose your cool, even though you're actually a really nice person in everyday life? Yeah, we get it. Sometimes road rage can just ruin your day! Today we talk about the psychology behind it, how to avoid it and what to do when you're faced with a "rager" on the road! Don't miss this informative and super relatable episode.

Change is a part of life - but it can be SO hard! If you are experiencing change, letting go and grasping something new - please share some time with us this week. I think it will encourage you! Here are the notes:John C. Maxwell: It Only Takes 6 Steps to Change Your LifeBy John C. Maxwell | January 20, 2015 Hope is the foundational principle for all change. People change because they have hope, and if people do not have hope, they will not change. You are responsible for the changes that you make in your life.Step 1: When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs.Change begins with the mind. Beliefs are nothing more than a byproduct of what you have thought about long enough, something that you have bought into—always remember that. What you believe, what you think, is just a collection of continual thoughts that have formed themselves into a conviction. When you break down the process of thinking into a manageable number of steps, you reduce the perceived risk associated with change.Step 2: When you change your beliefs, you change your expectations.Belief is the knowledge that we can do something. It is the inner feeling that what we undertake, we can accomplish. For the most part, all of us have the ability to look at something and know whether we can do it. So in belief there is power… our eyes are opened, our opportunities become plain, our visions become realities. Our beliefs control everything we do. If we believe we can or we believe we cannot, we are correct.Step 3: When you change your expectations, you change your attitude.Your expectations are going to determine your attitude. Most people get used to average; they get used to second best. Nelson Boswell said, “The first and most important step toward success is the expectation that we can succeed.”Step 4: When you change your attitude, you change your behavior.When our attitude begins to change, when we become involved with something, our behavior begins to change. The reason that we have to make personal changes is that we cannot take our people on a trip that we have not made.Step 5: When you change your behavior, you change your performance.Most people would rather live with old problems than new solutions. We would rather be comfortable than correct; we would rather stay in a routine than make changes. Even when we know that the changes are going to be better for us, we often don’t make them because we feel uncomfortable or awkward about making that kind of a change. Until we get courage and get used to living with something that is not comfortable, we cannot get any better.Step 6: When you change your performance, you change your life.It is easier to turn failure into success than an excuse into a possibility. A person can fail, turn around and understand their failure to make it a success. But I want to tell you, a person who makes excuses for everything will never truly succeed. Don’t you know some people who just have an excuse for everything? Why they could not, should not, did not, would not, have not, will not. I promise you, when you excuse what you are doing and excuse where you are, and you allow the exceptions, you fail to reach your potential. It is impossible to turn excuses into possibilities.

Today we discuss the importance of self-care in today's world and we offer tips and ideas to help you keep your mind and heart in check. We use the analogy of a tree - we being the tree trunk, with the branches all we do in life, and the roots are what we tend to in order to make our tree healthy. Join us a fun, encouraging conversation!

Today, Leslie and Marie decided to talk about favorite childhood memories, positive things we are all getting out of these social distancing days, and what the first thing we want to do when this is over will be! It's a fun episode with laughs, hope and encouragement.

Today Leslie & Marie are discussing what we are all learning during this quarantine, how we are growing and how past difficulties have shaped us. Do you remember where you were during 9/11? How about when someone famous passed away? These moments are etched in our minds - and we believe these moments of this pandemic will also be something you can learn and grow from, as well. Join us for the discussion!

Today, Leslie & Marie decided to just pause and ask...How are you? This pandemic crisis has been hard on a lot of people - and not so hard on many others. What are we learning about ourselves? About our lives? How are we going to make things better in the future? This episode was on Facebook Live and can be watched, if you prefer, on their facebook page at  http://www.facebook.com/midlifemadnesspodcast

This week, Leslie & Marie decided to switched gears. They are a little sick of talking about virus stuff, so they decided to share a fun life experience with you! Leslie was on Survivor China in 2007, and this is how it all went down, some behind the scenes information and what Marie thought of the whole thing. Enjoy! Here's a link to Leslie's audtion video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdNVBo4HSho

AAAAHHH!!! Whew. This is rough, folks. Let's talk about how we can make things a little less heavy at home while we are all waiting for the virus to pass! Leslie & Marie consult some "experts" (aka really awesome kids) to ask them what they are up to, how they are coping, advice they have and how they see good coming from all of this. All that, along with lots of great info, laughs, and for crying out loud - it's something to do for about 50 minutes, so why not? Episode 10 - Keeping your Cool When Stuck in Your House Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/our-hierarchy-needs  Articles used for this episode:https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/13/how-to-stay-calm-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-anxiety-relief-tips.htmlhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/202003/social-distancing-and-the-fear-virushttps://hbr.org/2020/03/anxiety-is-contagious-heres-how-to-contain-it https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.htmlPrioritize Self-careKnow you’re not alone Connect with others (Phone, Social Media, FaceTime, Skype, Zoom - Online Happy Hours)Stay informed, but manage your media dietStick to a routineTake care of your body (exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep)Take mental breaks (meditation, prayer, deep breaths)Be a good human (support small businesses - hair appts, house cleaners, gyms, restaurants)What should we tell our kids? It’s as much about how you say it as it is what you say.Stay calm - They are watching youOnly tell them what they need to knowKeep it simple and age appropriateExplain what’s happening in a way that they can understandWe would love to hear from you! You can find Midlife Madness on our Facebook page or our website at www.midlifemadnesspodcast.com.  If you like hanging out with us, please add us to your podcast subscriptions and give us a rating or review. It helps us build our Midlife Madness community.And don’t forget, you are enough right where you are.

The government is telling us to practice Social Distancing. What does that mean? What can we do? How can we be good humans? Leslie and Marie discuss the CDC guidelines, the ways to make it more tolerable and the ways that this unprecedented time in our lives can actually be a good thing for us and those we love.You feel fine and don't understand why you should be affected by the COVID19 virus. Putting it simply, social distancing is not about BEING sick. It’s about PREVENTING people from getting sick in an attempt to slow down the virus. If we don't slow it down we will overwhelm our healthcare system, which can lead to a much more serious issue. Here is a great analogy to help you understand:"You know how everyone rushed to the stores at the same time and cleaned out the inventory when they should have staggered their visits? Now imagine the same thing in the hospital, but instead of toilet paper, it's ICU beds and ventilators that are out of stock. This is why we are socially distances ourselves right now."Here are the articles that we used when we researched this episode:Cleveland Clinic - COVID-19: Understanding Quarantine, Isolation and Social Distancing in a Pandemichttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/covid-19-understanding-quarantine-isolation-and-social-distancing-in-a-pandemic/Mayo Clinic - Prepare, Prevent and Don't Panic about COVID-19https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/infographic-prepare-prevent-but-dont-panic-about-covid-19/Newsweek - Young and Unafraid of the Coronavirus Pandemic? Good for You. Now Stop Killing Peoplehttps://www.newsweek.com/young-unafraid-coronavirus-pandemic-good-you-now-stop-killing-people-opinion-1491797Johns Hopkins - What is Social Distancing and How Can it Slow the Spread of COVID-19?https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/03/13/what-is-social-distancing/We would love to hear from you! You can find Midlife Madness on our Facebook page or our website at www.midlifemadnesspodcast.com.  If you like hanging out with us, please add us to your podcast subscriptions and give us a rating or review. It helps us build our Midlife Madness community.And don’t forget, you are enough right where you are.

Leslie & Marie talk about the Coronavirus (COVID 19) with Dr. Buck Parker, MD, a Board Certified Surgeon in Salt Lake City, UT and one of the Physicians for the US Olympic Ski Team, about the Coronavirus, how it's spread, what it's symptoms are and if we should be worried, if we should panic or if we should run out and buy up all the toilet paper! Yes, you will laugh (I mean, it's Midlife Madness, right?) but there is also a ton of great info for you. Episode 9 - The One About the Corona Virus (COVID19)Resources for today’s show:Links to the Center for Disease Control:CDC - COVID19 - Risk AssessmentCDC - COVID19 - SymptomsCDC - COVID19 - Travel AdvisoryCDC - COVID19 - Stop the SpreadSongs to sing while you wash your hands (20 seconds or more)Happy BirthdayABC’sTwinkle Twinkle Little StarRecite The Lord’s PrayerGood Morning America - COVID19 ScammersBBC - The Psychology of Panic BuyingWe would like to thank Dr. Buck Parker for joining us today so that we could bring some professional advice during this crazy time. You can learn more about Dr. Parker at his website https://www.drbuckparker.com.  You can also find him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.We would love to hear from you! You can find Midlife Madness on our Facebook page or our website at www.midlifemadnesspodcast.com.  If you like hanging out with us, please add us to your podcast subscriptions and give us a rating or review. It helps us build our Midlife Madness community.May your home be disinfected so your family can be protected.

Sometimes social media can be a bit, well, un-nerving! How can we make it pleasant? How can we use it best for our benefit? Leslie & Marie have some fun sharing personal stories and useful tips on how to navigate social media in midlife. What does social media have to do with Midlife?In a March 2019 article about Social Media in midlife, written by Carol Parker Walsh, she states that studies have found that for women in midlife, social media can enrich opportunities for support, connection, and networking. These increased opportunities have positive implications for women’s health, wellbeing and livelihood.Admittedly, it can be tough, especially for midlifers who are uncomfortable with technology. THE BEST ADVICE WE CAN GIVE - Write down your password! Hearing from our ListenersWhen we asked our Facebook followers what frustrated them most about social media, there were some very passionate replies.Cathy said - People airing their dirty laundry! Some things should be private! Also, vague posts, just say it or don’t.Alberta said - News stories without facts.Maggie said - Attention seekers and dramatics.Tara said - Meanness (It’s so easy to be mean on social media when you don’t have to look someone in the eye.)Questions to ask yourself before you post on social media:Would I be embarrassed if my kids/parents/grandparents read this?Would I embarrass my kids/parents/grandparents if I post this?Is this offensive or vulgar?Is this factual or does it simply support my opinion?Would I want my pastor to read this?Would you say it to someone’s face?Is my message cryptic or attention seeking?We have a challenge for you today:Use the T.H.I.N.K. testIs it True?Is it Helpful?Is it Inspiring?Is it Necessary?Is it Kind?If you can’t answer yes to at least one of these questions when you are posting, we challenge you to post something positive or encouraging instead and hashtag #midlifemadnesspodcast or tag our Facebook page in your post so we can see that you accepted the challenge. Social Media EtiquetteBe Mindful when tagging photos.Don’t use social media to vent.Understand that not everybody “get’s” your sense of humor.Don’t start a fight online that you wouldn’t be willing to start in person. Agree to disagree.Don’t drink and post.When in doubt, wait 24 hours to see if your post is a good idea.If the little voice inside head is telling you not to post something, don’t post it. That voice is usually right.Don’t be cryptic or passive aggressive in your posts.If you regret it, delete it.Be responsible and empathetic towards others (Kobe Bryant - Jim’s cancer).Tips to help you stay sane and not get upset when on social media:Use your privacy settings.Block people!If you find that you compare yourself to others, remember that you are seeing their highlight reel, not their blooper reel.Silence someone without un-friending on Facebook (snooze, unfollow).Have different accounts for business and personal.Not everybody is going to like you.We would love to hear from you! You can find Midlife Madness on our Facebook page or our website at www.midlifemadnesspodcast.com.  If you like hanging out with us, please add us to your podcast subscriptions and give us a rating or review. It helps us build our Midlife Madness community.And don’t forget, you are enough right where you are.

Make sure you are in a place where you can cackle during this episode! And you may want to put on some depends, just in case. ;) Just kidding! Kind of.1. What causes our body to squeak?From mayoclinic.comGas in your digestive system is part of the normal process of digestion. Getting rid of excess gas, either by burping or passing gas (flatus), also is normal. Gas pain may occur if gas is trapped or not moving well through your digestive system.An increase in gas or gas pain may result from eating foods that are more likely to produce gas. Those foods can include vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, also beans, dairy products, and foods high in fiber and/or starch. I think the point is that we can’t avoid all gas producing foods, which is why gas is a normal part of of digestion.2. Why do we squeak more when we get older?From agingcare.comSlight changes in digestion are relatively normal as we age, but there are some symptoms to look for that may indicate an underlying medical issue. If your loved one’s squeaking is accompanied by weight loss, diarrhea, abdominal pain or distention, or decreased appetite, it’s important to make an appointment with their doctor. These symptoms could signify a variety of potential causes, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome, and others.3. Why do squeaks make that horrid sound?From a January 2018 article in Men’s Health - Quotes from Michael Rice, M.D., gastroenterologist at the University of Michigan MedicineThe sounds of squeaks are very much shaped by their expulsion velocity as well as the shape and size of the anal sphincter opening at the moment of passing.He compares it to a musical instrument: the smaller the size of the exit point, the higher the pitch—and perhaps the more squeaky it will be.If swallowed air is triggering your squeaking—as is the case in the majority of squeakers—they tend to be louder, but less smelly. If your squeak is primarily driven from digestion and bacterial fermentation, it will tend to be smaller in volume and sound, but stinkier. 12 Very Interesting Facts About “Squeakers”By Noah Henry – January 7, 2015The “f” word was coined in 1632, defined as “to send forth as wind from the anus”.Squeakers can reach speeds of 10 feet per second.In at least five plays – including “Othello,” “King Lear,” and “The Comedy of Errors” – Shakespeare cracks squeaker jokes like a pimply teenager.Due to higher hydrogen sulfide content, female squeakers smell worse than male squeakers on average.9.41 million gallons of human squeakers are released into our atmosphere daily.Around 1.15 million squeakers happen every second on earth.In China, “professional squeaker smellers” make up to $50,000 detecting flatulent odors to diagnose disease.The most prolific squeakers in the animal kingdom are termites.The Yanomami tribe of South America uses squeakers as a means of saying hello. The University of Exeter said smelling squeakers can reduce risk of cancer, stroke, arthritis and dementia.It would take nine squeakers from every person on earth to make a hydrogen bomb.Dead people can squeak.We would love to hear from you! You can find Midlife Madness on our Facebook page or our website at www.midlifemadnesspodcast.com. 

We want our kids to grow up and be responsible adults, but the transitioning from being at home to being on their own can be tough on some parents. Leslie & Marie discuss what they have learned about Empty Nesting and give great tips on how to get through a difficult transition a little easier.Tips on Empty Nesting:If you still have children in your nest, make sure that you are nurturing the relationship you have with your spouse. Date them, travel with them, make that relationship your top priority. Think ahead! Join communities online, or even in the neighborhood that empty nesters are in, start rallying support for what is to come.Keep in touch with your kids. Plan a call date with them weekly - or a FaceTime or Skype.Make a dream/bucket list and start checking things off! What are you passionate about? Start a blog, find a way to serve your community, maybe even start a podcast (haha).Avoid Big Changes (this is where I dropped the ball)Go back to school!If you’ve been a stay at home mom - Go back to work, even if it’s only part time.Organize and de-clutter. This accomplishes two things: 1. you are more organized and that can give you a sense of relief and 2. it gives you the feeling of being in control of something.Focus on your mental, physical and spiritual health. Start a bible study, take long walks or baths without kids banging the door down! Learn to give to yourself.Rescue a pet! We would love to hear from you! You can find Midlife Madness on our Facebook page or our website at www.midlifemadnesspodcast.com.  If you like hanging out with us, please like us, follow us, and add us to your podcast subscriptions. Also, when you have a moment, leave a rating and/or review. This helps us build the Midlife Madness community.May your children be close enough to watch your pets while you’re on vacation, but not so close that you don’t feel comfortable walking around the house in your birthday suit.And don’t forget, you are enough right where you are.

Leslie & Marie talk about their monthly visitor, Aunt Flow, and how she has made them laugh, how she helped Leslie realize she needed surgery and how to talk to your daughters about this right of passage for all women! Ladies, you will totally relate, guys, you'll be enlightened and hopefully, we'll walk away with a better understanding of who she is and why she matters!What does Aunt Flow have to do with midlife?It’s when she starts showing up unexpectedly (sometimes too frequent and sometimes she doesn’t visit for months). Then she stops visiting altogether. The dreaded “M” Word (Menopause).For those of you that still have kids at home, especially tweens, they need to feel comfortable to ask questions. If we don’t teach them, their friends will.Our adult sons and daughters are gong to ask for guidance as our granddaughters prepare for Aunt Flow. As we get older, our kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and others start to believe we are wise. We want them to believe this! Being prepared for an uncomfortable conversation can further that delusion of wisdom that we have perpetuated. We know we’re winging it, but they don’t need to know that. It gives them comfort to think we know what we’re talking about.You can find Midlife Madness show on your favorite podcast apps, including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and many more. Make sure to subscribe to receive our newest episodes when they drop.One more fun way to listen, if you have an Amazon Alexa device, simply say “Alexa, play Midlife Madness Podcast” and she will bring you right to our door.You will find “Midlife Madness Podcast” on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@MadnessMidlife, @leslienease, @mariebrace) if you’d like to hang out or chat with us. You can also privately email us directly at midlifemadnesspodcast@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you. If you liked hanging out with us, please like us, follow us, add us to your podcast subscriptions, or leave a rating and/or review. That is how the Midlife Madness community will grow. Now, if you don’t like us, you don’t need to do anything. Please don’t spend your time doing things you don’t enjoy. You won’t hurt our feelings. We promise!

Leslie & Marie discuss the way they deal with mental illness, the things they've learned, and how midlife can bring on its own issues with mental illness. There are laughs, hard truths and lots of helpful info for those who may be dealing with things like anxiety, depression or ADHD. Show Notes:Coping Ideas for anxiety:See a counselor/therapist.Close your eyes and take three deep breaths.Ask your counselor/therapist for a recommendation of a good book that you can refer to when you need a reference.Find Colors - Pick a color and find everything in the room you are in that is that color. This can redirect your anxious thoughts.Counting backwards from 100 by 3’s. Great for insomnia. Another redirect.Close your eyes and think about your happy place.Use medication if indicated.Podcast Ideas:The Hilarious World of DepressionHBR – The Anxious AchieverMental Illness Happy HourBeautiful Anonymous (not a mental health podcast, but often discusses it)Mental Health Resources:Emergency – National Suicide prevention hotline at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org or Call 800-273-8255, Call 911 or go to the emergency room.Make an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist in your area.Make an important with your primary doctorIf it’s your child, contact their school counselor and/or their pediatrician.NAMI offers support groups for various types of mental illness and family support. You can reach them at www.nami.org/Find-SupportIf you are an active duty military member, you can call Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647 where they can connect you to mental health services.If you are a Veteran of the U.S. military, you can call the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.You can listen and/or download our show on all BuzzSprout associated podcast players (Apple Podcast, Castbox, Castro, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, *Spotify, *Stitcher, iHeart Radio, *TuneIn, and Podchaser). You will need to download the app on your device or listen via our Facebook page on your personal computer.*Midlife Madness is currently available on these podcast players. All others are pending and we will keep you updated as they go live.One more fun way to listen, if you have an Amazon Alexa device, simply say “Alexa, play Midlife Madness Podcast” and she will bring you right to our door.You will find “Midlife Madness Podcast” on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@MadnessMidlife, @leslienease, @mariebrace) if you’d like to hang out or chat with us. You can also email us directly at midlifemadnesspodcast@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you. If you liked hanging out with us, please like us, follow us, add us to your podcast subscriptions, or leave a rating and/or review. That is how the Midlife Madness community will grow. Now, if you don’t like us, you don’t need to do anything. Please don’t spend your time doing things you don’t enjoy. You won’t hurt our feelings. We promise!Remember, you are enough right where you are!

Whew, motivation to do a fitness routine can be tough when you're tired, hot-flashing, or over-extended!  Leslie & Marie talk about the excuses, the why's and the how's of fitness in midlife from a very relatable place. Hopefully, you'll come away feeling understood, encouraged and maybe even a little bit motivated!Tips for getting motivated:Group Fitness - commitment, consistency, communityStrength TrainingWalkingStream some workouts from home (Youtube has some great ones, also DailyBurn and FitfusionTV are some other options - there are tons)Dancing in the house, cleaning (don’t underestimate the calorie burn of a good cleaning session!)Make a motivational playlist to exercise to.Set up alerts on your phone - get up and be active.Fit Bit ChallengesSet a goal - a marathon, a 5K, a hike that you haven’t been able to finish, & reward yourself after you reach the goal with a non-food award.Don’t know what to do at the gym? KPNfit gym guide is available on Instagram at @kpnfit or visit her website at www.kpnfit.com! Her guides will give you all you need to build confidence at the gym! If you don’t go to the gym, and prefer working out at home, KPNfit’s home guide is for you. Code MADNESS for 25% off any of her guides!Here's Why:Your family loves you.Your brain will work better.Fitness doesn’t take time out of your life, it puts life into your time.You’ll feel better.Your confidence will increase, you’ll feel accomplished. Middle Age not not end age.So you can enjoy your retirement.You can listen and/or download our show on all BuzzSprout associated podcast players (Apple Podcast, Castbox, Castro, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, *Spotify, *Stitcher, iHeart Radio, *TuneIn, and Podchaser). You will need to download the app on your device or listen via our Facebook page on your personal computer.*Midlife Madness is currently available on these podcast players. All others are pending and we will keep you updated as they go live.One more fun way to listen, if you have an Amazon Alexa device, simply say “Alexa, play Midlife Madness Podcast” and she will bring you right to our door.You will find “Midlife Madness Podcast” on social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@MadnessMidlife, @leslienease, @mariebrace) if you’d like to hang out or chat with us. You can also email us directly at midlifemadnesspodcast@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you. If you liked hanging out with us, please like us, follow us, add us to your podcast subscriptions, or leave a rating and/or review. That is how the Midlife Madness community will grow. Now, if you don’t like us, you don’t need to do anything. Please don’t spend your time doing things you don’t enjoy. You won’t hurt our feelings. We promise!Remember, you are enough right where you are!