Message In The Middle

Marianne DeMello-Smith
  • 5.0 (29)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
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This podcast is a safe and supportive space for listeners to explore life's challenging lessons and gain inspiration for their personal development journey. Through a variety of engaging formats, including interviews, book clubs, master classes, and discussions, the podcast delves into topics related to perseverance, self-empowerment, and self-discovery. With a focus on sharing expertise, inspiring stories and insights from a diverse range of voices, the podcast aims to help listeners navigate difficult experiences, provide hope and inspiration, and develop the resilience and strength needed to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.At its core, this podcast is a platform for personal growth and development. It provides a welcoming space for listeners to explore life's toughest lessons and learn from others who have overcome similar challenges. Through a variety of formats, including interviews with experts and everyday people, book clubs featuring thought-provoking works, and discussions focused on specific topics, listeners are exposed to a range of perspectives and ideas that can help them on their own personal journeys. One of the key themes of this podcast is perseverance. Many of the stories shared on the show highlight the importance of pushing through difficult times and not giving up, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Whether it's overcoming eating disorders, grief, addiction, navigating a health crisis, or dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic experience, the podcast emphasizes the resilience and strength of the human spirit. Another important theme of the podcast is self-empowerment. Listeners are encouraged to take control of their own lives and pursue their goals with confidence and determination. By sharing stories of individuals who have transformed their lives through hard work and self-discovery, the podcast inspires listeners to believe in their own potential and take steps to create the life they want and to recognize that we are all capable of rewiring our thoughts and behaviors.  Finally, the podcast is focused on self-discovery. Through discussions and interviews, listeners are encouraged to explore their own values, beliefs, and desires, and to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. By reflecting on their own experiences and learning from the stories of others, listeners can gain valuable insights that can help them navigate life's challenges and live more fulfilling lives. Overall, this podcast is a powerful resource for anyone seeking inspiration, guidance, and support on their personal development journey. By exploring life's difficult lessons through inspiring stories, interviews, book clubs, and discussions, listeners can gain the tools they need to persevere through tough times, empower themselves to achieve their goals, and discover their true selves.

  1. You’re Not Stuck. Your Nervous System Is Protecting You.

    10H AGO

    You’re Not Stuck. Your Nervous System Is Protecting You.

    Many women reach midlife having done years of personal growth work. They’ve read the books, gone to therapy, practiced mindset tools, and still find themselves feeling stuck. Not broken, exactly. Just not settled. Not at ease. In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne is joined by Ranbir Puar for a conversation that reframes what healing actually looks like. Together, they explore why mindset tools alone can fall short, especially for women who have spent years in survival mode without realizing it. Ranbir explains how healing begins in the nervous system, not because we’re failing at self-work, but because the body must feel safe before change can truly take hold. They talk about compassion as a more powerful force than willpower, what it means to stop asking “What’s wrong with me?” and instead ask “What happened to me?”, and how reconnecting with joy becomes possible when safety replaces self-pressure. This conversation is for the anyone who feels like they've been trying to outgrow themselves, only to realize they may be ready to come home to themselves instead. Connect with Ranbir:   Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/ranbir_puar/# Website-    https://freewithin.me/work-with-me/ Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content. Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...

    51 min
  2. What If Healing Doesn’t Have to Wait? Emma Churchman on Trauma and Resilience

    MAR 7

    What If Healing Doesn’t Have to Wait? Emma Churchman on Trauma and Resilience

    What if healing from trauma didn’t have to wait until life finally slowed down? What if recovery could happen in real time, right in the middle of uncertainty, responsibility, and everyday life? In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne is joined by Emma Churchman, nationally certified trauma chaplain, leadership mentor, executive consultant, and founder of the Trauma Recovery Certification Program. Together, they explore what trauma really is, how it often lives quietly in the body, and why so many people carry unrecognized trauma while continuing to perform, lead, and show up for others. Emma challenges the idea that trauma recovery must happen years later or only in clinical settings. Instead, she shares why processing trauma in real time can be both possible and powerful, and how addressing trauma at the root creates lasting resilience rather than symptom management. They also redefine resilience, moving away from the idea of “bouncing back” and toward evolving forward. From trauma-informed workplaces to personal healing, this conversation offers insight, compassion, and hope for anyone navigating the space between the life they planned and the life they’re living. Whether you’re in a season of personal challenge, leadership pressure, or quiet self-reflection, this episode invites you to reconsider what healing can look like right now. In This Episode, We Talk About: How trauma is defined and why it’s more common than we thinkEveryday experiences that often live in the body as traumaWhy trauma recovery doesn’t have to wait years to beginWhat real-time trauma processing looks like in daily lifeAddressing trauma at the root instead of managing symptomsHow trauma can hide behind competence, success, and reliabilityWhat trauma-informed leadership and workplaces truly requireRedefining resilience as evolving forward rather than bouncing backHealing, growth, and perspective shifts in midlifeConnect with Emma: Website:  https://www.emmachurchman.com/trauma Emma's lates book:  https://a.co/d/dzgS7ov Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content. Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...

    31 min
  3. When Being Busy Stops Working: Curiosity, Connection, and Midlife Leadership

    FEB 28

    When Being Busy Stops Working: Curiosity, Connection, and Midlife Leadership

    So many women in midlife are craving something they can’t quite name. It’s not another productivity system. It’s not better time management. And it’s definitely not one more thing to add to an already full plate. It’s genuine connection. In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne is joined by Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins, a leadership development expert who believes that when we center human connection in how we learn, lead, and live, everything changes. Mickey’s journey is anything but typical. At fourteen years old she became the youngest professional bass fisherman in the country and was managing dozens of sponsors and speaking confidently to rooms full of adults while most teenagers were still figuring out who they were. Those early experiences shaped her understanding of leadership, credibility, and presence in powerful ways. Years later, after building a successful career in higher education, educational technology, and corporate learning, Mickey found herself living the very patterns she now helps others break. Over-functioning. Burnout. And the deeply ingrained belief that busy equals valuable.  In this conversation, we explore why connection is often dismissed as a “soft skill” and why it may actually be the most essential leadership skill we have. We talk about work-life integration, identity shifts in midlife, and what it really takes to build a life and career that feels aligned. Connect with Mickey:   htpps://www.learnit.com/mickey https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeyfitchcollins/ Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content. Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...

    45 min
  4. Rewiring the Mind in Midlife: Hypnosis, Curiosity, Manifestation and the Power of Imagination

    FEB 21

    Rewiring the Mind in Midlife: Hypnosis, Curiosity, Manifestation and the Power of Imagination

    In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Clinical Hypnotherapist, imagination advocate, and award-winning author Michelle Walters to explore how hypnosis, curiosity, manifestation, and imagination can help women in midlife rewire long-standing subconscious patterns. Michelle shares the deeply personal story that led her from a successful career in digital marketing into hypnotherapy after the sudden loss of her life partner. That heartbreak became the catalyst for an inner reckoning — and ultimately, a new way of understanding how the subconscious mind shapes identity, resilience, and possibility. Together, Marianne and Michelle talk about outdated mental scripts, what really happens beneath the surface when women start questioning long-held roles, and why curiosity is one of the most under-appreciated tools for transformation. They also unpack what hypnosis truly feels like, the myths that keep people skeptical, and where rewriting your internal story actually begins. Michelle also introduces MakeMyHypno, her innovative personalized hypnosis platform that blends her therapeutic approach with AI technology to deliver custom recordings designed to support real-world change. If you’re a woman in midlife feeling the quiet pull toward growth, clarity, or reinvention, this episode offers insight, hope, and a powerful reminder: change doesn’t start with force. It starts with awareness, imagination, and a willingness to see yourself differently. Connect with Michelle: https://michellewalters.net/ https://makemyhypno.com/podcast_discount Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content. Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...

    47 min
  5. You Don’t Have to Earn Your Worth: Ruth Hirshberg on Burnout, Boundaries, and Believing You’re Enough

    FEB 14

    You Don’t Have to Earn Your Worth: Ruth Hirshberg on Burnout, Boundaries, and Believing You’re Enough

    So many women in midlife are quietly carrying an exhausting belief: that their worth is something they have to earn—through productivity, perfection, and putting everyone else first. In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne is joined by registered social worker, meditation and breathwork teacher, and founder of The Self-Worth Solution, Ruth Hirshberg, for a deeply honest conversation about burnout, boundaries, and the hidden beliefs keeping so many high-achieving women stuck. Ruth shares why boundaries don’t work when you don’t believe you’re allowed to have them, how survival mode becomes a “normal” way of living, and why trying to fix behaviors without addressing the beliefs underneath rarely leads to lasting change. Together, they explore what it really takes to separate your worth from your productivity—and why you don’t need to become a different person to finally feel enough. Key Takeaways: Why so many women intellectually know they’re worthy, but don’t feel itHow early beliefs around “not enoughness” quietly shape our adult livesThe difference between treating symptoms and addressing root causesWhy boundaries collapse without a foundation of self-worthHow productivity became a stand-in for worth, and how to untangle itThe role breathwork and nervous system regulation play in healingWhy you don’t need fixing, you need permission to stop proving yourselfIf you’re tired of chasing validation, running on empty, or feeling like you’re always falling short, this conversation offers permission to stop performing your worth and start owning it. Check out the Mini Meditation Marianne posted before the holidays:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1938384/episodes/18207054 Connect with Ruth:   Face Book https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579052467890Website: https://www.groundingwithruth.comInstagram: @groundingwithruthLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-hirshberg Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content. Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...

    45 min
  6. Thriving Through Chronic Illness: Relationships, Resilience & Staying Connected with Lisa Gray, LMFT

    FEB 7

    Thriving Through Chronic Illness: Relationships, Resilience & Staying Connected with Lisa Gray, LMFT

    What happens to a relationship when chronic illness enters the picture? For many women in midlife, a diagnosis doesn’t just affect the body, it reshapes roles, routines, identity, intimacy, and the emotional fabric of our closest relationships. And without the right support, even the strongest partnerships can quietly shift from connection to survival mode. In this episode of Message in the Middle, I’m joined by Lisa Gray, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in high-conflict couples and couples navigating chronic illness and pain. After spending a decade as an air traffic controller and peer debriefing counselor, Lisa transitioned into the mental health field and in 2009, her own diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome deepened and transformed her work in a powerful way. Lisa brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this conversation, along with a hopeful, grounded belief that relationships can grow stronger even in the middle of uncertainty and change. We talk about how chronic illness impacts partnership dynamics, communication, intimacy, identity, and how couples can move beyond survival toward true connection. We explore: How a chronic illness diagnosis reshapes relationship dynamicsCommunicating needs without guilt or fear of being a burdenAvoiding the caregiver–patient trap while staying supportiveNavigating changing roles and identities without resentmentRebuilding intimacy and emotional closenessRelationship NegotiationsWhat it really means to thrive, not just survive, as a coupleLisa is the author of Thriving in a Relationship When You Have Chronic Illness: Navigate Challenges and Keep Your Relationship Strong Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and shares practical insight, compassion, and hope throughout this conversation. If you’re in a season of rediscovery, wanting to feel more rooted, more connected, and more like yourself again, this episode is for you. Connect with Lisa: Instagram - @lisagraymft and @therapybooknookPractice website - www.lisagraymft.comAuthor website - https://www.lisagrayauthor.com Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content. Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...

    37 min
  7. Turning Heartbreak Into Art: Nikki Allen on Healing, Identity & Reinvention

    JAN 31

    Turning Heartbreak Into Art: Nikki Allen on Healing, Identity & Reinvention

    In this powerful conversation, Marianne sits down with author and creative visionary Nikki Allen, whose novel Loved You, Hated You began as a song, became a screenplay, and ultimately transformed into a raw, emotionally charged exploration of heartbreak, identity loss, and choosing yourself again. Nikki opens up about surviving an emotionally abusive relationship, the kind that doesn’t leave physical bruises but quietly erodes your voice, your clarity, and your sense of self. Through creativity, spirituality, and storytelling, she rebuilt her identity piece by piece  and today she’s sharing how midlife women can do the same. Together, they explore:  • Healing after emotional betrayal  • Reclaiming identity when you’ve lost yourself in love  • How creativity helps us process pain  • Turning trauma into transformation  • The power of midlife reinvention  • Using storytelling as a path back to your voice  • Nikki’s advocacy around homelessness and resilience If you’ve ever loved too hard, stayed too long, or struggled to find yourself again after heartbreak, this is an episode that will stay with you. Connect with Nikki: • Website: https://officialnikkiallen.com/  Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content. Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...

    39 min
  8. From Fight, Flight, or Freeze to Ease: Reconnecting with Your Nervous System with Kelly Hale

    JAN 24

    From Fight, Flight, or Freeze to Ease: Reconnecting with Your Nervous System with Kelly Hale

    If you’ve ever felt like your body and your mind were working against you—stuck in stress, burnout, or exhaustion—this episode is for you. Marianne sits down with Kelly Hale, a wellness practitioner with over 25 years of experience as an occupational therapist, restorative movement specialist, and nervous system regulation expert. Kelly’s not your typical wellness voice—she’s a self-proclaimed former meditation dropout who discovered that healing doesn’t come from doing more, but from listening within. Through her Gutsy Brain Movement, Kelly helps people move from fight, flight, or freeze into ease by blending nervous system regulation, gut health, and gentle, intentional movement. In this conversation, Kelly shares how her own health struggles with celiac disease and fertility challenges deepened her understanding of the body’s innate wisdom—and how we can all learn to trust our own bodies again. Together, Marianne and Kelly explore:  ✅ What nervous system regulation really means (and why it matters in midlife)  ✅ How gut health and emotional well-being are connected  ✅ What it looks like to rebuild trust with your body after years of disconnect  ✅ Simple, everyday practices to calm anxiety and restore balance  ✅ Why “healing” doesn’t have to be complicated If you’re ready to trade stress for self-awareness and exhaustion for ease, this episode will remind you that everything you need to heal already lives within you. Connect with Kelly: Website:  https://inspiredwell.com/Inner Peace Freebie: https://inspiredwell.com/innerpeaceIG:  https://www.instagram.com/inspired2wellness/FB:  https://www.facebook.com/inspiredwellnesskelly Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content. Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...

    47 min
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5
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

This podcast is a safe and supportive space for listeners to explore life's challenging lessons and gain inspiration for their personal development journey. Through a variety of engaging formats, including interviews, book clubs, master classes, and discussions, the podcast delves into topics related to perseverance, self-empowerment, and self-discovery. With a focus on sharing expertise, inspiring stories and insights from a diverse range of voices, the podcast aims to help listeners navigate difficult experiences, provide hope and inspiration, and develop the resilience and strength needed to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.At its core, this podcast is a platform for personal growth and development. It provides a welcoming space for listeners to explore life's toughest lessons and learn from others who have overcome similar challenges. Through a variety of formats, including interviews with experts and everyday people, book clubs featuring thought-provoking works, and discussions focused on specific topics, listeners are exposed to a range of perspectives and ideas that can help them on their own personal journeys. One of the key themes of this podcast is perseverance. Many of the stories shared on the show highlight the importance of pushing through difficult times and not giving up, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Whether it's overcoming eating disorders, grief, addiction, navigating a health crisis, or dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic experience, the podcast emphasizes the resilience and strength of the human spirit. Another important theme of the podcast is self-empowerment. Listeners are encouraged to take control of their own lives and pursue their goals with confidence and determination. By sharing stories of individuals who have transformed their lives through hard work and self-discovery, the podcast inspires listeners to believe in their own potential and take steps to create the life they want and to recognize that we are all capable of rewiring our thoughts and behaviors.  Finally, the podcast is focused on self-discovery. Through discussions and interviews, listeners are encouraged to explore their own values, beliefs, and desires, and to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. By reflecting on their own experiences and learning from the stories of others, listeners can gain valuable insights that can help them navigate life's challenges and live more fulfilling lives. Overall, this podcast is a powerful resource for anyone seeking inspiration, guidance, and support on their personal development journey. By exploring life's difficult lessons through inspiring stories, interviews, book clubs, and discussions, listeners can gain the tools they need to persevere through tough times, empower themselves to achieve their goals, and discover their true selves.

Information

  • Creator
    Marianne DeMello-Smith
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    203
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Message In The Middle
  • Show Website
    Message In The Middle