Midlife with Courage™-Helping Women over 40 Find Their Voice, Trust Themselves & Live Boldly with Kim Benoy

Kimberly Benoy-Speaker, Retired Registered Nurse, Aromatherapist, Wife and Mom
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Are you a woman in your 40s, 50s, or beyond who is wondering what happened to the woman you used to be—and what's possible for the woman you're becoming? Midlife with Courage™ is for women who are ready to stop living small, stop waiting for permission, and start living life on their own terms. Each week, host Kim Benoy has honest, courageous conversations with women who are challenging expectations, letting go of the stories that have held them back, and finding the confidence to do things differently. Together, they explore courage, self-worth, identity, purpose, relationships, and what it really means to speak up, take up space, and put yourself back on your own priority list. Because midlife isn't about becoming someone new. It's about rediscovering who you are, trusting yourself, and having the courage to become the woman you want to be. You're not too old. You're not too late. And you don't need anyone's permission to live boldly.

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  1. Oct 27

    How to Speak Up For Yourself and Build Confidence in Midlife

    Text the Show Do you struggle to speak up for yourself, express your opinions, or ask for what you need without feeling selfish or pushy? In this episode of Midlife with Courage™, Kim talks about building confidence in midlife by learning to stop minimizing yourself, softening your opinions, and making yourself smaller to keep others comfortable. She shares practical ways to start speaking up for yourself, including how to use "I" statements to confidently express what you need, want, think, and believe. You don't have to be loud, demanding, or arrogant to take up space. You simply have to recognize that your voice, opinions, and needs matter just as much as anyone else's. It's time to stop waiting for permission and start owning the space that's already yours. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Taking Up Space and Its Significance 02:06 What Taking Up Space Really Means for Women 04:40 Examples of Speaking Up in Daily Life 06:40 Using I Statements to Assert Yourself 09:24 Overcoming Fear and Pushback from Others 11:38 Building Confidence and Practicing Assertiveness 12:47 Upcoming Workshops and Resources for Women 13:43 Encouragement to Take Action and Final Thoughts Support the show You've spent your life taking care of everyone else, now it's your turn. It's time to stop shrinking yourself and start taking up space.  That might look like speaking up in conversations, not apologizing when you've done nothing wrong or setting boundaries.  Wherever you are playing small in your life, I can help change that.  The next It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop is coming soon. Make sure you don't miss it by clicking HERE.  *************************** Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:  Podmatch Link NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK

    How to Speak Up For Yourself and Build Confidence in Midlife

  2. Oct 20

    Midlife Subtraction and Alignment with Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey

    Text the Show Kim talks with leadership advisor and subtraction activist Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey about why adding more is not always the answer. Nell shares how a major car accident became the wake-up call that pushed her to rethink busyness, distraction, and the cost of overcommitting to herself and the people around her.  We discuss how subtraction can improve well-being, relationships, and leadership, especially in midlife when legacy responsibilities, work demands, and future opportunities all pile up at once.  Nell also shares her simple stop, drop, roll method for testing what to let go of, plus the role of body signals and unhelpful thinking in deciding what stays and what goes. Chapters 00:00 - Meet Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey and the idea of subtraction  01:13 - The 3D framework: self, work, family, and world  02:31 - The accident that changed everything  04:21 - How busyness affects the people around you  05:41 - The hidden impact of modeling overwhelm  07:11 - Why the phone habit keeps coming back  08:34 - Dopamine, craving, and the chase for more  11:00 - Midlife overload and the sandwich generation  11:54 - Why the past and future can crush us without subtraction  13:25 - Subtraction is personal, not prescriptive  14:19 - The stop, drop, roll method explained  16:08 - Listening to data from sleep, stress, and relationships  17:57 - Experimenting with what happens when you let something go  19:30 - When subtracting a meeting reveals a new problem  21:15 - The body as a source of truth  22:51 - Why women and men may experience pressure differently  25:30 - The forthcoming book and current writing work  26:25 - Where to find Nell and access her materials  27:21 - Passion as both a gift and a risk  29:21 - Subtracting unhelpful thinking and self-talk Notable quotes “Put your oxygen mask on first.”“Too much is dangerous.”“Subtraction might be things, but sometimes the most powerful subtraction is unhelpful thinking.”Nell is most active on her Substack account called Subtract to Succeed and she is giving the Midlife with Courage™ listeners a 90 day guest pass to check it out. You can use this LINK to get to it.  You can also hear more from Nell by watching her recent TEDx talk HERE.  Support the show You've spent your life taking care of everyone else, now it's your turn. It's time to stop shrinking yourself and start taking up space.  That might look like speaking up in conversations, not apologizing when you've done nothing wrong or setting boundaries.  Wherever you are playing small in your life, I can help change that.  The next It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop is coming soon. Make sure you don't miss it by clicking HERE.  *************************** Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:  Podmatch Link NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK

    Midlife Subtraction and Alignment with Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey

  3. Oct 13

    Midlife Positivity: Finding Strength through Cancer, Divorce and Life's Other Challenges with Dr. Cindy Howard

    Text the Show In this episode, Dr. Cindy Howard shares her journey through cancer, the power of language, hope, and resilience. Discover how mindset and intentional language can transform life's challenges into opportunities for growth.  Key  topics Walking through cancer with resilienceThe impact of language and mindsetHope as a proactive choiceLessons from divorce and adversityThe duplex theory of relationships Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Cindy Howard and her story 01:28 Discovering cancer through clinical signs 02:51 Diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma 04:09 Delivering bad news to oneself 06:27 The importance of language: from 'have' to 'experience' 08:04 The power of mindset and words 16:38 Hope as a proactive choice 20:43 Coping with grief and adversity 23:06 Lessons from divorce during illness 27:14 Letting go of toxic relationships 28:12 The duplex theory of relationships 32:22 Creating personal boundaries in relationships 36:47 Final message: walking through adversity with hope and action Get to know Dr. Cindy by checking out her website https://drcindyspeaks.com/. You will find her book, podcast and so much more.  Support the show You've spent your life taking care of everyone else, now it's your turn. It's time to stop shrinking yourself and start taking up space.  That might look like speaking up in conversations, not apologizing when you've done nothing wrong or setting boundaries.  Wherever you are playing small in your life, I can help change that.  The next It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop is coming soon. Make sure you don't miss it by clicking HERE.  *************************** Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:  Podmatch Link NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK

    Midlife Positivity: Finding Strength through Cancer, Divorce and Life's Other Challenges with Dr. Cindy Howard

  4. Oct 6

    Midlife, Alcohol-Free: How Toni Will Rebuilt Success on Her Own Terms

    Text the Show Kim Benoy talks with Toni Will about personal transformation, the language of recovery, and defining success on your own terms. Toni shares what it’s like to lead in professional hockey as one of very few women in the role, and how the lessons she’s lived shaped her book, Rebellious Success. In this episode: Toni reflects on quitting drinking for good in 2020 and the earlier turning point that began her journey.She explains why traditional recovery language and frameworks, including AA, didn’t feel like the right fit for her.Kim and Toni discuss language around alcohol use and the value of finding a path that works for you.Toni shares what it can mean to get off track before finding your way forward again.She describes leading the business and community side of the Kalamazoo Wings in a male-dominated sport.Toni talks about responding to bias and public criticism with intention rather than reaction.She explains how she defines success for herself—beyond social media metrics and other people’s expectations.Toni shares the inspiration behind Rebellious Success and her podcast, Women In....Timestamps: 00:00 — Introduction to Toni Will02:01 — Toni’s decision to quit drinking for good03:44 — The experience that became an early turning point05:26 — Why traditional recovery language didn’t fit her07:48 — Choosing language that feels right10:18 — Getting off track to get on track12:31 — Injury, exercise, and giving yourself grace14:10 — Why we can focus on mistakes instead of wins16:24 — Being a woman in professional hockey leadership19:49 — Navigating public criticism and bias22:26 — Knowing when to step back from leadership roles24:23 — How a different perspective can be a strength26:10 — Defining success on your own terms28:17 — Letting go of shame and other people’s expectations29:55 — Why life isn’t an Instagram highlight reel31:35 — Toni’s coaching work32:20 — The purpose behind Women In...33:42 — Toni’s final message: “Just be you” Notable quotes: “I drank out loud, so I needed to quit out loud.”“Sometimes you have to get off track to get on track.”“Life is not an Instagram highlight reel.” You can reach Toni on her website toniwill.com. You'll find her book, podcast and coaching opportunities there as well. Support the show You've spent your life taking care of everyone else, now it's your turn. It's time to stop shrinking yourself and start taking up space.  That might look like speaking up in conversations, not apologizing when you've done nothing wrong or setting boundaries.  Wherever you are playing small in your life, I can help change that.  The next It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop is coming soon. Make sure you don't miss it by clicking HERE.  *************************** Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:  Podmatch Link NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK

    Midlife, Alcohol-Free: How Toni Will Rebuilt Success on Her Own Terms

  5. Sep 29

    Adventure and Becoming Brave in Midlife with Luanna McGuire

    Text the Show For Luanna McGuire, what started out as a way to inspire her daughters, has turned into a book and encouragement for many more people. Luanna has spent her nursing career as a travel nurse, filling in for staff shortages or vacations around the country. What she found along the way was adventure and, surprisingly to her, courage.  This week, Kim talks to Luanna about what it means to be brave and how she took lessons from her early experiences and used them in her career and personal life.  You can find more about Luanna including her book on her website: https://lmcguireauthor.com/ Support the show You've spent your life taking care of everyone else, now it's your turn. It's time to stop shrinking yourself and start taking up space.  That might look like speaking up in conversations, not apologizing when you've done nothing wrong or setting boundaries.  Wherever you are playing small in your life, I can help change that.  The next It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop is coming soon. Make sure you don't miss it by clicking HERE.  *************************** Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:  Podmatch Link NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK

    Adventure and Becoming Brave in Midlife with Luanna McGuire

  6. Sep 22

    Changing the Stories We Tell Ourselves in Midlife

    Text the Show This week, Kim explores how the stories we tell ourselves shape our mindset and confidence. She shares practical ways to identify, challenge, and change negative narratives to empower midlife women. Key Topics: The impact of self-told stories on confidenceHow stories are interpretations, not factsTechniques to challenge negative narrativesExamples of changing stories in real lifeThe importance of self-awareness and journaling Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the power of stories we tell ourselves 02:01 Stories are interpretations, not facts 03:09 Changing your perspective on unanswered texts 05:11 Overcoming negative thoughts about workshop success 07:07 Valuing your contributions and achievements 09:20 Breaking the myth of needing to make everyone happy 11:01 Valuing yourself and your story 12:17 Turning stories into empowering truths 13:07 Next steps: changing your inner narrative Support the show You've spent your life taking care of everyone else, now it's your turn. It's time to stop shrinking yourself and start taking up space.  That might look like speaking up in conversations, not apologizing when you've done nothing wrong or setting boundaries.  Wherever you are playing small in your life, I can help change that.  The next It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop is coming soon. Make sure you don't miss it by clicking HERE.  *************************** Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:  Podmatch Link NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK

    Changing the Stories We Tell Ourselves in Midlife

  7. Sep 15

    Finding Your Midlife Superpower with Noreen Noble

    Text the Show What's your super power? In this episode, Noreen Noble shares her inspiring journey through midlife, emphasizing the importance of self-trust, understanding our origin stories, and embracing our inner superheroes to live more joyfully and authentically. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Noreen Noble and episode overview 01:55 Noreen shares her personal midlife aha moment 04:57 The nine origin stories of superheroes and their human counterparts 10:06 The importance of self-trust and self-love 14:59 Neuroscience and body-based coaching techniques 19:55 Practical tools: breathing and posture for emotional regulation 25:12 Discovering and activating your superpowers 30:02 The role of community and shared stories in empowerment 31:56 Noreen's book and coaching offerings Find the superhero inside of you by going to Noreen's website: NoreenNoble.com Noreen is offering Midlife with Courage™ listeners an opportunity to quiet the mental noise, reconnect with their intuition, and strengthen their ability to trust themselves. Go to noreennoble.com/trustyourself and use the code PODCAST to get this 5-day experience for free. If you enjoyed this fun conversation with Noreen and you want to help her get her book out into the world, she is raising funds and asking for feedback.  CLICK HERE to learn more.  Support the show You've spent your life taking care of everyone else, now it's your turn. It's time to stop shrinking yourself and start taking up space.  That might look like speaking up in conversations, not apologizing when you've done nothing wrong or setting boundaries.  Wherever you are playing small in your life, I can help change that.  The next It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop is coming soon. Make sure you don't miss it by clicking HERE.  *************************** Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:  Podmatch Link NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK

    Finding Your Midlife Superpower with Noreen Noble

  8. Sep 8

    Finding Midlife Lessons in Nature with Mary Rothwell

    Text the Show In this episode, Mary Rothwell shares her journey from a career in therapy to becoming a certified forest therapy practitioner. She discusses how nature can be a powerful teacher for personal growth, resilience, and thriving in midlife. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mary Rothwell and her work 01:51 Mary's journey from a career in therapy to nature-based practices 03:49 The lessons we can learn from plants about resilience and thriving 07:10 The importance of returning to childhood passions and authenticity 09:59 Understanding our essential nature and how to embrace it 13:05 The chemical and energetic connection between humans and nature 15:03 How to incorporate nature into everyday life and work 16:52 Using metaphors from plants to foster personal and professional growth 20:00 The significance of roots, nutrients, and environment in thriving 23:13 The story behind the name 'No Shrinking Violets' and empowering women 26:51 Mary’s coaching approach: burn and build, and helping women find their true selves 27:58 How to support independent authors and the importance of community If you'd like to learn more about Mary you can go to her website: https://maryrothwell.net/. You'll find links to her book called Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive Through the Wisdom of Plants, her podcast and her coaching opportunities.  Support the show You've spent your life taking care of everyone else, now it's your turn. It's time to stop shrinking yourself and start taking up space.  That might look like speaking up in conversations, not apologizing when you've done nothing wrong or setting boundaries.  Wherever you are playing small in your life, I can help change that.  The next It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop is coming soon. Make sure you don't miss it by clicking HERE.  *************************** Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Bold Women Thriving After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:  Podmatch Link NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK

    Finding Midlife Lessons in Nature with Mary Rothwell
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About

Are you a woman in your 40s, 50s, or beyond who is wondering what happened to the woman you used to be—and what's possible for the woman you're becoming? Midlife with Courage™ is for women who are ready to stop living small, stop waiting for permission, and start living life on their own terms. Each week, host Kim Benoy has honest, courageous conversations with women who are challenging expectations, letting go of the stories that have held them back, and finding the confidence to do things differently. Together, they explore courage, self-worth, identity, purpose, relationships, and what it really means to speak up, take up space, and put yourself back on your own priority list. Because midlife isn't about becoming someone new. It's about rediscovering who you are, trusting yourself, and having the courage to become the woman you want to be. You're not too old. You're not too late. And you don't need anyone's permission to live boldly.

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