100 episodes

Women are becoming stronger, claiming our power, and being true badasses. Host Bonnie Marcus interviews some of the most groundbreaking badass women and shares their stories of doing extraordinary things to change perceptions and challenge the status quo

Badass Women at Any Age Bonnie Marcus

    • Business
    • 4.9 • 33 Ratings

Women are becoming stronger, claiming our power, and being true badasses. Host Bonnie Marcus interviews some of the most groundbreaking badass women and shares their stories of doing extraordinary things to change perceptions and challenge the status quo

    Navigating Change with Lisa DeAngelis

    Navigating Change with Lisa DeAngelis

    Through a series of life altering events, Lisa DeAngelis learned how to masterfully fuse work and passion in her life.  Recognizing that she could live the life she wanted based on the choices she made, gave Lisa the motivation, resilience, and power to show up as her most authentic self every step of the way.  Lisa is a holistic change practitioner.  She's an author, teacher, and speaker. She's passionate about building meaningful relationships and helping others live authentically. Her debut book, embracing the Unknown, Exploring the Pathways to Change, offers research, wisdom and inspirational stories, which will empower and support others in learning to navigate change in their own lives. Lisa's own unfolding journey has established her commitment to living with intention and purpose and helping others walk through the meaningful intersections of their lives. An avid traveler, singer, and lover of the arts, Lisa lives and works in New York City.
     
    What You Will Hear in This Episode: 
     2:31 Lisa’s personal story
    7:45 Self realizations Lisa has experienced throughout her journey
    15:37 Why people resist change. Fear 
    22:45 Successfully navigating through change.  Adaptability, resilience and courage
    28:10 Growth mindset, limiting beliefs and authenticity
     
    Quotes
    “ Fear is a momentary reaction and we can use the data in our environment to remind us that it is just a moment in time. “
    “​​The brain is brilliant. It's a brilliant system that hones in on what skills are most needed for the situations you find yourself most in.”
    “There are always opportunities to learn new things and there are always opportunities to learn from some of our missteps and our failures that will help us move forward.”
    “Each time we are willing to go outside of the scope of what we already know, It opens and deepens us a little bit more.”
    “A piece of learning is also figuring out what we need to unlearn.”
    “Sometimes not getting to where I thought I wanted to go, actually allowed me to get to where I needed to be”
     
    Mentioned:
    Alexander Technique
    Embracing The Unknown: Exploring the Pathways to Change
    LisaDeAngelis.com
     
    eConnect with Bonnie
    https://bonniemarcusleadership.com/
    https://web.facebook.com/bonnie.marcus/ 
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniemarcus
    https://twitter.com/selfpromote
    https://www.instagram.com/self_promote_/
    Gendered Ageism Survey Results
    Forbes article
    5 Tips to own the superpower of your age
    IAMMusicGroup



    Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon: 
     
    If you enjoyed this episode of Badass Women Podcast, then make sure to subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review.
     

    • 37 min
    Discover Your Erotic Self with Stella Fosse

    Discover Your Erotic Self with Stella Fosse

    Defying the notion that characters in novels need to be of a certain age to be popular, Stella Fosse is living her dream as a successful writer and advocate of erotica for older women.  Stella completed her career as a biotechnology writer in 2019 and became an advocate for the creative power of older women. She champions older women's creativity by leading imaginative workshops in seasoned romance erotica and memoir writing.  She writes sexy stories as a creative antidote to the gendered ageism that exists in our society.  Her 2019 book, Aphrodite’s Pen encourages ripe women to encourage erotic writing as a joyful practice.  She models this playful approach in her own fiction, including her novel, Brilliant, Charming Bastard and her story Collection, The Erotic Pandemic Ball.  Stella Blogs about topics of interest to women after midlife, including creativity, media representation, and finances. She draws from her background in biotechnology to write about older women's health and encourages guest blogs on her site by other women of a certain age. Her upcoming novel, which we'll learn more about today, is a gothic romance called Vampires of a Certain Age, about a medieval healer turned vampire.  Also in the works is Crone Hub, an online resource center for older women's culture. Stella's next book on writing will be The Well Seasoned Romance: How to Write and Sell Your Late Life Love Story,  and in 2024  look for Stella's collected essays, tentatively entitled, What to Expect When You're 60.  Stella Lives with her partner in North Carolina Research Triangle. 
    What You Will Hear in This Episode: 
    2:51 Stella’s personal journey
    9:52 What attracted Stella to writing seasoned romance erotica 
    12:34 What holds women back from embracing their erotic selves. Conditioning
    15:36 What led Stella to the characters in her books
    17:49 The creative power of older women
    21:15 Tips for getting around your inner critic
    26:30 Lessons learned and challenges overcome
     
    Quotes
    “I really do encourage creative writing and writing our vivid stories as a way to push back on the stereotypes in society about people of a certain age  because we really are out there living our lives and having a grand time, and that word needs to get out.”
    “I think for women of my age, our ideas about sexuality were already formed and they were quite constrained and it's tough to put that conditioning behind you.”
    “Learning and sex until rigor mortis” - Maggie Kuhn
    “As we become successful we do build certain barriers that we live inside in order to maintain our success.”
    “It's important to find a way to just let yourself play. That is really the key.”
     
    Mentioned:
    Aphrodite’s Pen: The Power of Writing Erotica After Midlife
    Andy Courier
    Stellafosse.com
    Facebook
    LinkedIn
     
    eConnect with Bonnie
    https://bonniemarcusleadership.com/
    https://web.facebook.com/bonnie.marcus/ 
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniemarcus
    https://twitter.com/selfpromote
    https://www.instagram.com/self_promote_/
    Gendered Ageism Survey Results
    Forbes article
    5 Tips to own the superpower of your age
    IAMMusicGroup



    Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon: 
     
    If you enjoyed this episode of Badass Women Podcast, then make sure to subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review.
     

    • 34 min
    Walking Your Way To Better with Joyce Shulman

    Walking Your Way To Better with Joyce Shulman

    After practicing law for over a dozen years, Joyce Shulman’s lifelong entrepreneurial spirit led her in a different direction.  Learning to use walking as a tool from a young age, Joyce, encouraged by her husband, turned her love of walking  into more than just a daily practice for herself.  An advocate for intentional walking, Joyce is the co-founder and CEO of 99 Walks and Jedi Fitness, two wellness brands that are rooted in the transformative power of an intentional walking practice.  A self-confessed idea junkie,  Joyce is an entrepreneur committed to building authentic communities. She is a frequent speaker, host of The Weekly Walk podcast, Veteran of the TEDx stage and author of the book Walk Your Way to Better.   Most importantly, Joyce says she's a joyful wanderer, and I'm so glad she wandered onto our show today,



     What You Will Hear in This Episode: 
    1:20 Joyce’s personal story
    4:50 Lessons learned on her entrepreneurial journey
    7:56 Starting her own walking practice,  intention and their effects
    13:40 Intentional walking and the idea of a walking practice as a business
    16:15 Walking vs running, treadmill vs nature
    21:08 What you can expect from a daily walking practice
    27:40 Advice on overcoming the challenges of developing a walking practice
    33:55 Does tracking make a difference?
     
    Quotes
    “Once you get that (entrepreneurial) bug, it's really hard to go back because what I love is building things and communities that have real impact on people.”
    “What I think so many of us need, especially right now, is to reduce the stress, reduce the cortisol. Just be really present and finish it feeling less beat up.”
    “A 20 minute walk can boost your creativity by 60%.”
    “A 10 minute walk can have as much of an energy boost as a shot of espresso.”
    “I do believe that we are meant to move. We're not all meant to move in the same way and there is value in figuring out what feels good for your body.”
    “Every step counts in every mile matters.”
    “We are more likely to show up for other people than we are to show up for ourselves.”
     
    Mentioned:
    99walks.fit
    Jetti fitness
    Joyceshulman.com
    99Walks Podcast
     
    eConnect with Bonnie
    https://bonniemarcusleadership.com/
    https://web.facebook.com/bonnie.marcus/ 
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniemarcus
    https://twitter.com/selfpromote
    https://www.instagram.com/self_promote_/
    Gendered Ageism Survey Results
    Forbes article
    5 Tips to own the superpower of your age
    IAMMusicGroup
     
    Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon: 
     
    If you enjoyed this episode of Badass Women Podcast, then make sure to subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review.
     

    • 35 min
    Helping You Find Your Badass Match with Nelly Sudri

    Helping You Find Your Badass Match with Nelly Sudri

    Feeling the pressure of companies getting leaner during the pandemic, Nelly Sudri made the decision to leave her successful corporate career to pursue an MBA.  Finding that she enjoyed helping people more than crunching numbers, Nelly pivoted her focus to a masters program that centered around interpersonal dynamics and began working as a relationship coach. She grew her social media channels and created a course which replaced her corporate salary and found success doing what she truly loved, helping people.  Nelly is the star of Roku’s new original series ‘Match Me in Miami’. Nelly is the #1 Dating Coach for High-Value™ Women & Men and has the track record to support it. With over 900,000 followers on TikTok & Instagram combined, Nelly has become the top dating coach for High-Value™ singles around the world! Her dating advice videos have garnered over 20 million likes across social media and her content has transformed the love lives of millions of men and women. 
    Prior to starting her dating coaching business, Nelly graduated with a B.S. in Communications from the University of Miami in 2017. She then earned a certificate from Harvard Business School online in 2020 and eventually earned her master's degree in Conflict Resolution & Negotiation from Columbia University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbia in 2021 and is trained in mediation. 
    Nelly recently launched her new card game, The Datrix. The Datrix is a tool that offers a quantifiable approach to predicting success among couples. The Datrix highlights the relationship between chemistry and compatibility - two essential components that form the foundation for lasting love. Depending on the score determined at the end of the game, one may discover that they have a weak, medium, or strong Datrix with the object of their desire, and through doing so, pinpoint areas that can help them develop more self awareness and strategies to reach their goals.
     
     What You Will Hear in This Episode: 
    3:20 Nelly’s personal story
    9:30 Lessons learned along the way
    11:17 The pressures in dating
    14:17 Biggest challenges women face in dating
    17:18 Advice for women looking to get into the dating game and key issues
    22:36 The Datrix card game.  Chemistry and compatibility
    27:35 Online dating advice
     
    Quotes
    “ I have been really cautious to get too invested with people who I don't feel are gonna add value, and that's not just dating wise, it's also friendship wise.  I'm very protective of my energy.”
    “The more time you spend entertaining the wrong person, the longer it's gonna take to meet the right one.”
    “Don't be with someone just cause you feel like you're uncomfortable being alone.”
    “You don't attract what you want in life. You attract what you are.”
    “Dating is a numbers game. And what I mean by that is the more dates you go on, the more likely you are to hit it off with someone and find a connection.”
     
    Mentioned:
    NellySudri.com
    Ask-Nelly.co
    TikTok  @ask.nelly
    Instagram @ask.nelly
    eConnect with Bonnie
    https://bonniemarcusleadership.com/
    https://web.facebook.com/bonnie.marcus/ 
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniemarcus
    https://twitter.com/selfpromote
    https://www.instagram.com/self_promote_/
    Gendered Ageism Survey Results
    Forbes article
    5 Tips to own the superpower of your age
    IAMMusicGroup



    Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon: 
     
    If you enjoyed this episode of Badass Women Podcast, then make sure to subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review.
     

    • 35 min
    Journaling Your Badass Story with Merle Saferstein

    Journaling Your Badass Story with Merle Saferstein

    While taking a break from her career as a lifelong educator Merle Saferstein was offered a series of opportunities that led her to discover the importance of leaving her legacy.  Working with over 500 Holocaust survivors and having kept journals her entire life, Merle was inspired to help others leave their legacy through journaling.  She is a pioneer in the field of legacy journaling. She's a professional educator, speaker, author, and we can learn a lot from Merle's personal story and about the art of journaling. Merle has been journaling for 48 years and has amassed a collection of 380 journals, the majority of which are the basis for her Legacy Journal books, Living and Leaving My Legacy Volumes 1 and 2. After 26 years as a Holocaust educator, where she worked with hundreds of Holocaust survivors, helping them to leave their legacy, she retired and created Living and Leaving Your Legacy through classes, workshops, and lectures. She has guided thousands of people in Sacred Legacy work, writing for wellness and journaling. Her short story collection Room 732 pays homage to the historic Hollywood Beach Hotel.  Merle lives in Miami, Florida with her husband of 56 years and has two children and two grandchildren.
     
     What You Will Hear in This Episode: 
    3:15 Merle’s personal journey
    6:50 Expanding from education to writing and public speaking
    10:21 Journaling and its benefits
    17:06 Journaling promoting wellness 
    20:34 Journaling advice and challenges
    26:52 Using journaling as a tool
     
    Quotes
    “ Just as I believe legacy work is a gift we give ourselves, I believe journaling is as well.”
    “ I remember things and I do believe that I remember them because of the fact that I wrote them down.”
    “If you don't even know where to start, then just start with Right now I'm thinking, or right now I'm feeling. Just get to exactly where you're at in that moment, and just let your pen go, and don't censor what you write.”
     
    Mentioned:
    Room 732
    Living and Leaving My Legacy
    Merlersaferstein.com
    IAJW
     
    eConnect with Bonnie
    https://bonniemarcusleadership.com/
    https://web.facebook.com/bonnie.marcus/ 
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniemarcus
    https://twitter.com/selfpromote
    https://www.instagram.com/self_promote_/
    Gendered Ageism Survey Results
    Forbes article
    5 Tips to own the superpower of your age
    IAMMusicGroup



    Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon: 
     
    If you enjoyed this episode of Badass Women Podcast, then make sure to subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review.
     

    • 31 min
    Love after 50 with Francine Russo

    Love after 50 with Francine Russo

    After losing her husband to a heart attack at the age of 46, Francine Russo began a 10 year quest to find a partner.  When history repeated itself and she lost her second husband, she followed the same pattern, omitting the mistakes she had made the first time around.  Combining what she learned from her experiences, career and love for relationships and psychology, Francine embarked on a journey to help people over 50 find love.  Francine Russo is the author of Love after 50 and They’re Your Parents, Too!  Armed with a PhD in English literature, she became a journalist focusing on psychology, relationships and social trends. And she’s made her mark. Having cut her teeth at the late lamented Village Voice, she’s gone on to write for virtually every publication from the Atlantic to The New York Times. She covered the Boomer beat at Time magazine for over a decade, and her cover stories have appeared on Parade and Scientific American and New York Magazine. A dynamic and polished presenter, she is in great demand as a keynote speaker.  Francine has two grown children, three adult stepchildren and eight amazing grandkids. She has experienced first-hand the tremendous potential we all have to grow and transform ourselves with the people we love. She lives in New York with her partner.

     
     What You Will Hear in This Episode: 
    1:50 Francine’s personal story
    3:50 Persistence and sudden loss
    7:50 Lessons learned about herself through life and career
    9:50 relationships, psychology and Love After 50
    12:15 Most important thing women should know about dating after 50
    19:30 Habits, stepping out of your comfort zone and baggage
    25:16 Common mistakes when dating and tips on how to avoid them
    31:10 Issues around sex and intimacy 
     
    Quotes:
    “I learned to endure the pain, to live with it and to get through it……I learned that I could survive pretty  much anything and that I was stronger than I had realized and that I am strong.“
    “People have to unload their baggage….We can look at it as something that’s part of our past. that we have lived through and learned from and  are now at a place where we dont need to rely on that baggage anymore.”
    “it's perfectly okay if you are done with sex and you're not interested, as long as you find a partner, and there are plenty of men as well as women who really just wanna cuddle and hold hands and sleep in each other's arms, and that's ok. Whatever you need, as long as you work it out with your partner.”
    “Women who are older have far more options about the way they wanna have a relationship.”
     
    Mentioned:
    FrancineRusso.com
    Love After 50
     
    Connect with Bonnie
    https://bonniemarcusleadership.com/
    https://web.facebook.com/bonnie.marcus/ 
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonniemarcus
    https://twitter.com/selfpromote
    https://www.instagram.com/self_promote_/
    Gendered Ageism Survey Results
    Forbes article
    5 Tips to own the superpower of your age
    IAMMusicGroup
    Purchase my book Not Done Yet on Amazon: 
     If you enjoyed this episode of Badass Women Podcast, then make sure to subscribe to the podcast and drop us a five-star review.
     

    • 39 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
33 Ratings

33 Ratings

Debbie Waidl ,

A must listen for those struggling with menopause!

I am a big proponent of natural healing and as a functional health coach support women struggling with migraine pain and symptoms that often come during menopause.

Your podcast: Supporting Women Through Menopause With Catherine Balsam-Schwaber really hit home with what I teach my clients through my Migraine Freedom Protocol....discussing the challenges of menopause and the importance of women listening to their bodies.

A must listen for those struggling with menopause!

mendingtrauma ,

Empowering!

Bonnie does a great job of empowering women regardless of their circumstances. She is an excellent interviewer and packs each episode with value. Highly recommend!

brettelizabeth ,

Inspired!

Resilience implies a return to an original point, which can be a valid goal, but these interviews show people evolving - not backwards and forwards in a linear sense, but more three dimensional. Grateful to Bonnie for pulling these narratives together!

Top Podcasts In Business

Ramsey Network
NPR
Money News Network
Dan Fleyshman
Sean Castrina
Marketplace

You Might Also Like

Wendy Valentine - Podcaster, Writer & Master Midlife Coach
Laura McClellan
Glennon Doyle & Cadence13
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
iHeartPodcasts
Kate Moryoussef