Design Your Joyful Retirement

Laurie Crawford
  • 4.6 (18)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Design Your Joyful Retirement is for Gen X women who want to prepare for thriving in retirement. We're talking about everything from financial freedom, health & wellness, perimenopause and menopause to travel, relationships, downsizing and more. Get ready for expert interviews, actionable tips, and inspiring stories that will help you create the retirement you desire. We're diving deep into the areas that matter most to Gen X women. Everything that we'll be talking about is to highlight the many options we all have and to support you in designing the retirement you desire.

  1. Sep 30

    41. Start With Curiosity: A Conversation with Maria Leonard Olsen

    What does it look like to begin again when the life you knew no longer fits? In this episode, I'm talking with attorney, author, and speaker Maria Leonard Olsen about starting over, trying new things, and discovering who you are in a new season of life. After navigating divorce, recovery, an empty nest, and living alone for the first time, Maria found herself at 50 wondering: What comes next? Instead of waiting until she had the answer, she got curious. Maria challenged herself to try 50 new things ~ and along the way, discovered new interests, new experiences, and a new way of looking at her life. We talk about: Why you don't need to have your next chapter figured out How trying new things can help you rediscover yourself What Maria learned from her "50 new things" experiment Letting go of what no longer fits The difference between being alone and being lonely Why curiosity can be such a powerful tool during times of change Giving yourself permission to ask, "What do I want now?" You don't have to wait for a major life transition to reconsider how you're spending your time or what you want more of. Sometimes the next chapter doesn't begin with a big plan. It begins with getting curious enough to try something new. Connect with Maria at: Website LinkedIn Instagram TEDX talks: Turning Life's Challenges Into a Force for Good Should you use a DNA test kit? Book: 50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life

    41. Start With Curiosity: A Conversation with Maria Leonard Olsen

  2. Sep 16

    40. Gen X is Breaking One More Old Pattern with Tracy Douglas

    Gen X women are pretty good at figuring things out ourselves. But when independence becomes our default, asking for help can feel surprisingly hard. In this episode, we talk about: Why independence became such a defining Gen X trait How "I'll figure it out myself" can become a limiting pattern Why asking for help can feel especially difficult for women How therapy can give us a place to sort things out without the emotional entanglements of everyday life Why good friendships matter as we move into this next chapter Contact Tracy at: Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Huffington Post Article ~  The Most Common Issues GenXers Bring Up in Therapy

    40. Gen X is Breaking One More Old Pattern with Tracy Douglas

  3. Sep 2

    39. Becoming a Wellness Weaver with Raquel Durden

    In this week's Design Your Joyful Retirement episode, I'm talking with Raquel Durden ~ veteran, cancer survivor, yoga teacher, author of Dial Down: Moving from Chaos to Calm, and proud "wellness weaver."   Raquel shares a simple but powerful idea: wellness isn't something you escape to someday. It's something you gently weave into your everyday life.   We explored how small practices ~ like walking, breathing, journaling, movement, or taking a few quiet minutes for yourself ~ can help you feel more grounded, especially during midlife and retirement transitions.   This conversation is a refreshing reminder that calm doesn't arrive when life finally gets easier. It's built in small moments, one choice at a time.   🎧 Listen now for an encouraging, practical conversation about creating wellness in ways that actually work for real life. Connect with Raquel at: Website Humble Warrior Wellness & Yoga

    39. Becoming a Wellness Weaver with Raquel Durden

  4. Aug 19

    38. You Don't Have to Know the Whole Story (Yet) with Alison Lebwohl

    One of the things I love about midlife is that we start asking different questions. Do I really want to keep doing this? What would I do if I had more freedom? What might be possible if I stopped doing things simply because they're familiar? But even when we know we want something to change, that doesn't mean we know exactly what comes next. In this episode with Alison Lebwohl, we talk about her gradual transition from a 23-year career in state government to building her own consulting business. Rather than having a mapped out plan, her business grew organically, one opportunity at a time. Maybe there's something you've been thinking about ~ a career change, a new business, a different way of working, more time for yourself, or simply a life that feels more like you. The next chapter doesn't have to be perfectly planned. It just has to feel true to you. Connect with Alison on LinkedIn or via email

    38. You Don't Have to Know the Whole Story (Yet) with Alison Lebwohl

  5. Aug 5

    37. Menopause Isn't a Breakdown ~ It's a Becoming with Marelda Rodrigues

    What if this season of life isn't something to survive, but an opportunity to create intentionally? In this episode, I'm talking with Marelda Rodrigues, certified health coach, menopause educator, and founder of Sovereign Becoming™, to explore how menopause, retirement, and other life transitions can become powerful invitations to reconnect with yourself and design a next chapter that truly fits. We talk about: Why menopause is more than a physical transition The connection between health, identity, and purpose How to approach your next chapter with intention instead of autopilot Reflection: What do you want the next chapter of your life to feel like? LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mareldarodrigues/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignbecoming/ Website: https://mareldarodrigues.com

    37. Menopause Isn't a Breakdown ~ It's a Becoming with Marelda Rodrigues

  6. Jul 22

    36. Maybe You're Not Stuck ~ Just Being Redirected with Jess Parvin

    This conversation with Jess Parvin is an honest look at what it really takes to build a business that reflects who you are ~ without shrinking yourself to fit someone else's formula. We talk about the myth of "overnight success," why burnout often becomes a turning point, and how entrepreneurship can act as a powerful catalyst for personal and spiritual growth. Jess shares how limiting beliefs ~ not lack of strategy ~ are often the real barrier, and why reconnecting with your authentic self is the foundation for building something sustainable. We also explore the shift away from hustle culture toward a more aligned, soul-led way of working, the power of community, and how taking small, imperfect steps can create real momentum. If you've ever felt stuck, scattered, or unsure how to turn your experience into something meaningful, this conversation will meet you there. Website: www.jessparvin.com Podcast: Holistic Business Growth Instagram: Holistic Biz Growth

    36. Maybe You're Not Stuck ~ Just Being Redirected with Jess Parvin

  7. Jul 8

    35. Who Made These Rules? with Jennifer Butz

    What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your age, but the invisible rules you've been living by? In this episode, I'm talking with Jennifer Butz, founder of WonderCrone, to explore what it means to break the societal scripts that shape how women think about aging, purpose, and what's possible after 50. After decades of living and working around the world, Jen noticed something striking: many cultures honor older women as wisdom holders, while ours often encourages us to become smaller, quieter, and less visible. Together, we explore how limiting beliefs quietly shape our lives, why lasting change happens through small acts of self-trust rather than dramatic reinvention, and how cultivating wonder can open doors to a more authentic next chapter. If you've ever caught yourself thinking, I'm too old for that, I should have this figured out by now, or Who am I if I'm no longer defined by my career or caregiving?, this conversation is for you. We explore: Why the stories we tell ourselves about aging deserve to be questioned. The most common limiting beliefs women carry into midlife and how to recognize them. Why meaningful change is evolutionary, not revolutionary. How giving yourself small "permission slips" can lead to profound transformation. The role of wonder, curiosity, and playfulness in creating a fulfilling next chapter. Why your lived experience is one of your greatest strengths. How older women can embrace their voice, wisdom, and relevance in a culture that often overlooks them.   Jen's take on aging is irreverent, warm, and deeply human. This one will stay with you. 🎧 Listen to the full episode now. 📲 Follow the show so you never miss an episode Website: Wondercrone.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-l-butz-6a2ab311/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wondercrone/ Weekly blogs can be found at wondercrone.com. Jen has written four books that are available on Amazon: Where Wisdom Meets Wonder: A Workbook of Renewal, Agency, and Direction. (2024) Rebel Aging: Wisdom, Wonder, and a Few Shenanigans (2025) The Wisdom and Wonder of Coloring (a journaling/coloring book to tap the right side of the brain) (2025) What Darwin Can Teach Us About Aging in Power: An Evolutionary Lens on Resilience and Thriving (due out early 2027)

    35. Who Made These Rules? with Jennifer Butz

  8. Jun 24

    34. The Empress Has Entered the Chat with Kate Higgins

    In this episode, I talk with Kate Higgins, a therapist-turned-spiritual life coach for unconventional women 40+, who brings 26 years of clinical experience, a decade of burlesque performing, and a hard-won midlife reinvention of her own. It's a rich, expansive conversation that will make you feel seen ~ and maybe a little more ready to claim what's yours. Kate speaks candidly about the four archetypal phases every woman moves through ~ Maiden, Mother, Empress, and Crone ~ and why understanding where you are right now has a way of shifting everything. She shares her powerful ritual, Craft Your Crown, a hands-on rite of passage designed to help women step fully into who they're becoming. We also get real about the Empress era ~ what it actually looks and feels like to set a boundary without apologizing or justifying. And we talk about what retirement can look like when you're long on creativity and community, even if you're short on savings. Kate's reminder that healing doesn't have to be so serious stayed with me. Joy is not a reward for doing the hard work ~ it is the work. Give this episode a listen ~ you'll walk away feeling more grounded, more crowned, and maybe a little more ready to cross the threshold. 👑 In This Episode We Cover: The four archetypal phases of a woman's life What the Empress era really looks and feels like The Craft Your Crown ritual and why it works Setting boundaries without apologizing or justifying Alternative retirement models built on creativity and community Why healing gets to be joyful, silly, and fun Resources & Links Mentioned: Kate's Website: yourmagicalmidlife.com Instagram: @yourmagicalmidlife Podcast: Your Magical Midlife LinkedIn: yourmagicalmidlife.com

    34. The Empress Has Entered the Chat with Kate Higgins
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4.6
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Design Your Joyful Retirement is for Gen X women who want to prepare for thriving in retirement. We're talking about everything from financial freedom, health & wellness, perimenopause and menopause to travel, relationships, downsizing and more. Get ready for expert interviews, actionable tips, and inspiring stories that will help you create the retirement you desire. We're diving deep into the areas that matter most to Gen X women. Everything that we'll be talking about is to highlight the many options we all have and to support you in designing the retirement you desire.

Information

  • Creator
    Laurie Crawford
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023. Laurie Crawford Coaching, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Design Your Joyful Retirement

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