say YES to yourself! | Midlife Reinvention: Real Stories, Bold Moves

Wendy Harrop

Say YES to Yourself! is a top midlife podcast for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who are reinventing their lives and navigating major life transitions.  This podcast is for you if you're asking: 1. Why do I feel lost as a woman in midlife? 2. Who am I now that my kids are grown and I have an empty nest? 3. Is it too late to reinvent myself in my 40s or 50s? 4. How do I rebuild after a divorce or a major life change? 5. Why do I feel guilty for wanting more for myself in midlife? 6. How do I stop people-pleasing and start putting myself first? 7. How do women reinvent themselves after caregiving or burnout? 8. How do I rebuild confidence and trust myself again in midlife? 9. How do I navigate a midlife transition without losing myself? 10. How do I make a career pivot in midlife that actually feels aligned? Each week, host Wendy Harrop interviews inspiring women who are reinventing their lives in midlife. From career changes and creative pursuits to empty nest transitions and personal breakthroughs, you'll hear real stories of midlife transformation, courage, and joy. Topics include: midlife reinvention, starting over after 40, second chapter living, empty nest syndrome, midlife career change, women's empowerment, personal growth for women over 50, midlife transitions, rebuilding after divorce, and finding yourself again in midlife. Say YES to Yourself! is for midlife women ready to shed outdated expectations, rewrite their stories, and put themselves first—without guilt or apology. Your best chapter starts now.

  1. 1d ago

    From Rock Bottom to Discovering Your Worth: A Story of Resilience | Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Sarah Barnes-Humphrey about what happens when your entire life plan disappears overnight. Ten days before her 37th birthday, the family business she'd wanted to run since age 16 closed its doors. Job gone. Title gone. Future gone. It was the worst day of her life, but she didn't stay there. They explore: When you lose everything, you discover what you're actually made of, and how resilience looks less like inspiration and more like showing up brokenThe moment someone told her the work was worth $1,000 and she believed it: how discovering your worth changes everythingThe ongoing battle: autoimmune disease, panic attacks since her 20s, a dysregulated nervous system, but continuing to say yes to what matters anywaySarah's story isn't about bouncing back perfectly or finding the silver lining. It's about climbing out of rock bottom while still carrying the wounds. It's about rebuilding while your body and mind are still fighting. It's raw, honest, and real. Connect with Sarah: Get her book, I Buried Her in a French Press: amazon.com/Buried-Her-French-Press-Finding/dp/1544549466?tag=syty-20 Instagram: instagram.com/sarahbarneshumphrey LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahbarneshumphrey BlendedPledge.org SarahBarnesHumphrey.com Podcasts: sarahbarneshumphrey.com/content Referenced in this Episode: On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen: amazon.com/dp/059324303X/?tag=syty-20 Lewis Howes Podcast: lewishowes.com/sogpodcast ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

  2. 6d ago

    How to Say No Without Guilt: Breaking Patterns and Reclaiming Your Voice | Angela Burk

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Angela Burk, author of The Real Girl's Guide to Midlife. Angela spent decades saying yes to everything—yes to things she didn't want to do, yes to explanations and justifications, yes to everyone else's needs before her own. Then she hit a wall. Not one explosive moment, but a gradual awareness that she'd lost parts of herself in the process of trying to be everything to everyone. So she started saying no. And her life changed. They explore: How saying no is actually saying yes to yourself, and why "no" is a complete sentence that needs no explanationBreaking patterns rooted in decades of modeled behaviors and old stories about who you're supposed to beThe simple power of speaking your truth out loud: even saying it to yourself in an empty room interrupts a thought pattern and shifts your entire trajectoryAngela's philosophy centers on one core truth: you are not broken; you've just been operating from old blueprints. Midlife is an invitation to get real about what's working and what isn't. Rest isn't weakness. Boundaries aren't selfish. Your voice matters. And the messy middle part—the part nobody talks about—is where the actual transformation happens. Connect with Angela: Get her book, Real Girls Guide to Midlife: Hot Takes, True Stories, and Fearless Advice from Women Who’ve Lived It & Experts Who Get It: amazon.com/Real-Girls-Guide-Midlife-Fearless/dp/1959009338?tag=syty-20 realgirlsguidetomidlife.com Instagram: instagram.com/realgirlsguide55/ Referenced in this Episode: Episode 281: Aging Gracefully Vs. Aging Helplessly | Dr. Sofia Din: buzzsprout.com/1872382/episodes/18782263  A Widow's Fire: An Intimate Memoir of Heartbreak, Survival, and Moving Forward by Diane Pike Heiler: amazon.com/Widows-Fire-Intimate-Heartbreak-Survival/dp/B0F67HJ3HW ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

  3. Jul 8

    Reinvention as a Way of Life: Following the Call Across Countries and Careers | Karla Freeman

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Karla Freeman, a therapist, somatic experiencing practitioner, writer, filmmaker, artist, tango dancer, and playwright. Karla's life is a masterclass in reinvention. She's lived in 5 countries, traveled to 40, and built multiple careers—each one aligned with creativity and transformation. But her story isn't about constantly running. It's about saying yes. To imagination. To calls. To the next chapter, even when the current one is beautiful. They explore: How discovering your voice and realizing you have insight worth sharing changes everythingReinvention as a spiritual practice: following the call even when you have to leave wonderful things behindLiving outside the box and what happens when you stop trying to fit into your family of origin's moldKarla's philosophy is simple: fall down, get up, do it wrong long enough to learn the lesson. She's been a social worker, therapist, dancer, writer, and now a playwright—gathering all her experiences into one piece. She's lived in Brooklyn, Manhattan, California, Argentina, and Ecuador. She's followed her teachers, her instincts, and her imagination. And she's discovered that the universe supports the people brave enough to say yes. Connect with Karla: KarlaFreemanStoryteller.com Get her book, Creating Magic in Midlife: 101 Questions and Answers to Reinvent Your Work, Relationships, and Life!: amazon.com/Creating-Magic-Midlife-Questions-Relationships/dp/0976554003?tag=syty-20 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

  4. Jul 3

    Your Body's Messages: Healing Ancestral Trauma and Rising to the Next Level | Edit B. Kiss

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Edit B. Kiss, a holistic mentor, success habit coach, #1 bestselling author, Humanitarian Award winner, and international speaker. Edit specializes in guiding individuals from misery to peace within 30 days by integrating ancient healing techniques with neuroscience. After a 15-year career in petroleum engineering, she pivoted to holistic healing—a transformation that exemplifies everything she teaches: that evolution is possible at any stage, and that your body's messages are invitations to rise to the next level. They explore: How physical symptoms and dis-ease are signals you're meant to grow and release what's holding you backThe power of ancestral and karmic healing: understanding how past wounds shape current struggles, and how releasing those stuck energies opens new creative channels and possibilitiesRecognizing synchronicities and signs from the universe as affirmation you're on the right path, and learning to surrender rather than force outcomesEdit's philosophy centers on continuous evolution. You don't have one purpose in life; you have many, and they shift as you grow. When you stop resisting and start surrendering, when you release the stuck emotions from old memories and honor what your body is telling you, that's when the magic happens. That's when you rise to the next level. Connect with Edit: EditBKiss.com Instagram: instagram.com/editbkiss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/editbkiss YouTube: youtube.com/@MagicalKarmaPriestess Her Books: amazon.com/stores/author/B08JYN71X3/allbooks Referenced in this Episode: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks: www.amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level/dp/0061735361?tag=syty-20 Jessica Hickman-Woolcott's Appearance on the SYTY Podcast: buzzsprout.com/1872382/episodes/16767951 Cognac Jewellery School: cognacjewelleryschool.com ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

  5. Jul 1

    Work Less, Make More: Women Entrepreneurs Over 50 Doing What They Love | Patricia Noel Drain

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Patricia Noel Drain, author of 14 books, podcaster, and business mentor who specializes in guiding women entrepreneurs over 50 to step fully into their value and create the income they deserve. Her signature certification program, Your Gift Is Your Niche, empowers women to discover, own, and monetize their natural gifts, talents, and skills. They explore: Why women entrepreneurs over 50 are uniquely positioned to work less and make more, and why authenticity, not hustle, is the real superpowerHow to uncover your unique gifts and design a business around what you actually excel atSaying yes to yourself at any age: Patricia's real-time discovery of new experiences, curiosity, and beginner's mindPatricia's whole approach centers on a simple belief: thriving in business is less about degrees or credentials, and more about uncovering and monetizing your unique gifts. When women step into authenticity and stop trying to fit into someone else's mold, everything shifts. They make better money, work fewer hours, and most importantly, they get to be themselves. That's when the possibilities become endless. Connect with Patricia: PatriciaDrain.com YourGiftIsYourNiche.com Women Entrepreneurs Over 50 Podcast: patriciadrain.com/women-entrepreneurs-over-50-podcast LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patriciadrain Facebook: facebook.com/patriciadrain Referenced in this Episode: Health and Wealth: Building the Foundation for Women's Power with Nancy Griffin: buzzsprout.com/1872382/episodes/19350798 The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss: amazon.com/dp/0307465357?tag=syty-20 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

  6. Jun 26

    Cancer and Vulnerability: How Staying Authentic Keeps You Strong | Cara Lockwood

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! In this episode, Wendy sits down with Cara Lockwood, a USA Today bestselling author. When Cara was diagnosed with breast cancer, she discovered something unexpected: you don't have to be positive to be strong. You can fight cancer salty, sarcastic, and real. In this conversation, she talks about the power of authenticity, the mythology of toxic positivity, and why the universe responds to your vibration, not your words. They explore: Why vulnerability isn't weakness, and how being honest about fear, anger, and overwhelm is actually the strongest choice you can makeYou still get to decide: how to maintain agency and power even when crisis feels like it's driving the busFocus as a superpower: how intentionally looking for joy (an English muffin with jam or a cup of tea) grounds you and helps change what's possibleCara's whole philosophy is about refusing to choose between authenticity and strength. You don't have to fake positivity to access joy. You don't have to deny the hard thing to focus on what you love. What matters is your vibration, your focus, and your willingness to stay real about where you are while choosing what brings you alive. That's how you keep your power: not by pretending everything's fine, but by refusing to let the hard thing be the only thing. Connect with Cara: CaraTheAuthor.com Her Books: caratheauthor.com/author Instagram: instagram.com/cara.the.author LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cara-tanamachi-lockwood-benoit-563b5040 Referenced in this Episode: A Course in Miracles (Wendy's favorite links): apps.apple.com/us/app/acim-remind/id737568020amazon.com/Course-Miracles-Combined-Quality/dp/1883360242?tag=syty-20marianne.com/acim/________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

  7. Jun 24

    Your Home Is Your Soul: Making Conscious Choices in Life Transitions | Kim Costa

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for the 2027 Summer Solstice White Party at the Phineas Wright House. A celebration of community, intention, and connection. Save your seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party-2027 In this episode, Wendy sits down with Kim Costa, a real estate professional and author who believes your home is far more than a financial transaction—it's a reflection of your soul. After years in real estate and a background in residential construction and design, Kim has developed a framework for making conscious housing decisions aligned with who you actually are. She's written a book featuring the Wheelhouse Assessment, a tool that helps people understand the 8 areas of their life and what their home needs to support. They explore: Why your home is a spiritual alignment tool, not just a practical one, and what happens when it's out of alignmentHow to use the Wheelhouse Assessment and Maslow's hierarchy to distinguish between real needs and aesthetic wantsWhy knowing yourself is the foundation for choosing a home that actually serves youKim's philosophy is simple: life transitions, whether forced upon us or chosen, are opportunities to recalibrate and ask the hard questions. Your home can either support that process or resist it. The work isn't just about finding the right house. It's about understanding who you're becoming and whether your living space can hold that version of you. That's conscious choosing. Connect with Kim: Website: lifestylefoundations.com Instagram: instagram.com/kim.e.costa LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kimecosta Her Podcast, Live in Your Wheelhouse: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-in-your-wheel-house/id1853930729 Get her book, Live in Your Wheelhouse: amazon.com/Live-Your-Wheel-House-Empowering/dp/B0GKTB5Z7C?tag=syty-20 Referenced in this Episode: Books by Gay Hendricks:  The Genius Zone: The Breakthrough Process to End Negative Thinking and Live in True Creativity: amazon.com/Genius-Zone-Breakthrough-Negative-Creativity/dp/1250246547?tag=syty-20The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level: amazon.com/Big-Leap-Conquer-Hidden-Level/dp/0061735361?tag=syty-20Wendy's HGTV Appearance: New House New Life, Season 1 Episode 3: amazon.com/New-House-Life-Season/dp/B091HZQ912 ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

  8. Jun 19

    Health and Wealth: Building the Foundation for Women's Power | Nancy Griffin

    Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself! Join Wendy for the 2027 Summer Solstice White Party at the Phineas Wright House. A celebration of community, intention, and connection. Save your seat here: phineaswrighthouse.com/the-shop/p/summer-solstice-white-party-2027 In this episode, Wendy sits down with Nancy Griffin, who has spent nearly three decades exploring the intersection of health and wealth, and how both are foundational to women's self-worth, power, and legacy. Nancy started Women Worth & Wellness 30 years ago when women were beginning to earn real money but didn't know how to think about it strategically. Over three decades, she's evolved the mission: it's no longer just about building net worth. It's about women stepping into the power they've earned and choosing what to do with it. They explore: Why health and wealth belong together and how integrating them fuels women's powerWhat it means for women to step into the opportunity they're in of more earning, more inheriting, and longer life expectancyHow knowing your uniqueness and delegating allows you to invest your greatest asset of time in what matters mostNancy's philosophy is simple: women have already achieved an incredible amount. Now the question is: what are you going to do with that power? Not from a place of obligation or guilt, but from genuine alignment with your values. She talks about twinning health and wealth in every conversation, because you can't show up powerfully in the world if you're not taking care of yourself. And once you're grounded, the real work begins: stepping in, stepping up, and amplifying your impact through generosity, philanthropy, and legacy. Connect with Nancy: Email: nancy@womenworthwellness.com Website: WomenWorthWellness.com Instagram: instagram.com/womenworthandwellness Facebook: facebook.com/womenworthandwellness LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/womenworthandwellness ________________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Wendy: Linkedin Instagram: @wendy.harrop Facebook: Phineas Wright House Website: Phineas Wright House PWH Farm Stays PWH Curated Experience and Travel Interested in being a guest on the show? Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat! If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a  5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.

5
out of 5
90 Ratings

About

Say YES to Yourself! is a top midlife podcast for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who are reinventing their lives and navigating major life transitions.  This podcast is for you if you're asking: 1. Why do I feel lost as a woman in midlife? 2. Who am I now that my kids are grown and I have an empty nest? 3. Is it too late to reinvent myself in my 40s or 50s? 4. How do I rebuild after a divorce or a major life change? 5. Why do I feel guilty for wanting more for myself in midlife? 6. How do I stop people-pleasing and start putting myself first? 7. How do women reinvent themselves after caregiving or burnout? 8. How do I rebuild confidence and trust myself again in midlife? 9. How do I navigate a midlife transition without losing myself? 10. How do I make a career pivot in midlife that actually feels aligned? Each week, host Wendy Harrop interviews inspiring women who are reinventing their lives in midlife. From career changes and creative pursuits to empty nest transitions and personal breakthroughs, you'll hear real stories of midlife transformation, courage, and joy. Topics include: midlife reinvention, starting over after 40, second chapter living, empty nest syndrome, midlife career change, women's empowerment, personal growth for women over 50, midlife transitions, rebuilding after divorce, and finding yourself again in midlife. Say YES to Yourself! is for midlife women ready to shed outdated expectations, rewrite their stories, and put themselves first—without guilt or apology. Your best chapter starts now.

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