Message in the Middle: Midlife Women, Reinvention & Personal Growth

Marianne DeMello-Smith
  • 5.0 (32)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Message in the Middle is a podcast for women navigating the challenges, transitions, and reinventions that often come with midlife.  Hosted by Marianne DeMello-Smith, each episode explores the messy, meaningful moments that shape who we become. Through honest conversations with experts, authors, thought leaders, and everyday women, you'll discover practical insights, inspiring stories, and new perspectives on what it means to grow through life's most difficult seasons. Whether you're facing a career change, caregiving responsibilities, health challenges, grief, relationship shifts, menopause, identity changes, or simply wondering what's next, Message in the Middle offers encouragement, wisdom, and real-world strategies to help you move forward with greater confidence and purpose. Together, we'll explore resilience, personal growth, self-discovery, emotional well-being, and the power of turning life's messes into meaningful midlife messages. Because midlife isn't the end of your story. It may just be the beginning of your next chapter.

  1. From Broken to the Big Stage: Scott Scovill on Fear of Failure and Reinvention

    4d ago

    From Broken to the Big Stage: Scott Scovill on Fear of Failure and Reinvention

    What if the thing standing between you and the life you still want isn’t talent, timing, or confidence—but tenacity? In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with entrepreneur, creative director, and author Scott Scovill to explore what it really takes to keep going when fear, failure, and self-doubt tell you to stop. Scott’s story doesn’t follow a traditional path. He went from a struggling student who felt “broken” and paralyzed by fear of failure to building one of the most successful live video production companies in the music industry, working with artists like Garth Brooks, the Rolling Stones, and Luke Combs. And in his fifties, he discovered he could sing and stepped onto a stage in front of thousands. His message is simple but powerful: tenacity is not something you’re born with. It’s something you build. In this conversation, we explore:  What fear of failure actually feels like and how it keeps people stuck  Why taking the first step changes everything  The difference between enduring a life and pursuing one that feels aligned  How to reconnect with your own dreams after years of meeting expectations  What it means to stay open to growth and reinvention in midlife If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to try something new, or questioned whether you still have it in you to go after what you want, this episode will challenge that belief. Connect with Scott: ScottScovill.com Get the Book: Tenacious: The Art of Relentlessly Pursuing Your Wildest Dreams Connect with Marianne: Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave 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 the Middle podcas...

    47 min
  2. The Identity Gap: Who You Were vs. Who You’re Becoming with Dr. Sarah Andreas

    Jun 6

    The Identity Gap: Who You Were vs. Who You’re Becoming with Dr. Sarah Andreas

    There’s a moment in midlife that many women recognize, even if they’ve never had the language for it. You’re no longer who you used to be… but you’re not fully who you’re becoming either. In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Dr. Sarah Andreas, artist, educator, and author of Step Into the Ether, to explore what she calls the identity gap. That in-between space where old identities begin to fall away and something new is quietly forming. Together, they unpack:  What the identity gap actually feels like in real life  Why reinvention is not a one-time event, but a cycle  Sarah’s three-phase framework: Reveal, Render, and Rise The role of creativity and art in accessing deeper self-understanding  Why grief is often part of becoming someone new  How to stay grounded when you’re no longer who you were, but not yet who you’ll be This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and deeply validating for anyone navigating change, transition, or reinvention in midlife. If you’ve been feeling untethered, uncertain, or quietly evolving… this episode will help you make sense of where you are and remind you that there is nothing wrong with being in the middle. Connect with Sarah:   https://sarahandreas.com/https://www.soulzenstudio.com/resources Connect with Marianne: Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave 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 the Middle podcas...

    47 min
  3. You Don’t Have to Change Everything to Change Your Life | Michele Kehrer on Clarity, Resilience, and Brave Shifts

    May 30

    You Don’t Have to Change Everything to Change Your Life | Michele Kehrer on Clarity, Resilience, and Brave Shifts

    What if the answer isn’t to change everything… but to change just a few things that change everything? In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Dr. Michele Kehrer, business growth coach, entrepreneur, and four-time cancer survivor, to explore what it really means to find clarity in the middle of chaos. After building and selling a successful physical therapy practice in downtown Chicago, Michele now helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs and midlife women step out of constant decision-making and into focused, sustainable growth. But her work is deeply shaped by her personal journey through illness, loss, and reinvention. This conversation goes beyond business strategy. It is about identity, resilience, and learning how to move forward when life no longer looks the way you expected. Together, Marianne and Michele explore:  The difference between being busy and being truly stuck  Why most women are focusing on the wrong things  How to find clarity in the middle of competing priorities  The emotional side of letting go, even when it is the right choice  What cancer taught Michele about time, energy, and what actually matters  How small mindset shifts can create meaningful, lasting change This episode will resonate with any woman navigating a season of change, whether in her health, career, relationships, or sense of self. Because sometimes the shift that saves your life is the same one that helps you rebuild it. Connect with Michele: https://www.instagram.com/balancemichele/https://www.facebook.com/michele.kehrerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michelekehrer/https://michelekehrer.com/ Connect with Marianne: Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave 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 the Middle podcas...

    38 min
  4. Why You Still Feel Stuck (Even After Doing the Work) | Somatic Healing with Melanie Smithson

    May 23

    Why You Still Feel Stuck (Even After Doing the Work) | Somatic Healing with Melanie Smithson

    There’s a moment many women reach in midlife where they realize something frustrating… They’ve done the work. They understand their patterns. They’ve processed their experiences. They can talk about their past with clarity and insight. And yet, something still feels stuck. In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with somatic psychotherapist and author Melanie Smithson to explore why insight alone doesn’t always create the healing we’re looking for—and what might be missing from the conversation. Melanie’s work centers on a powerful truth: the body holds what the mind tries to manage. And when we don’t fully release what we’ve experienced, it doesn’t disappear—it stays with us, showing up as tension, reactivity, and emotional patterns we don’t always understand. Together, they explore:  Why understanding your story doesn’t always lead to change  How unprocessed grief and life transitions live in the body  What somatic work actually is—and how it differs from traditional approaches  Why so many of us struggle to let go (even when we want to)  Simple, accessible ways to begin reconnecting with the body  What it feels like when real release starts to happen This conversation is especially relevant for women navigating midlife transitions, grief, identity shifts, and the quiet frustration of feeling like they’ve done everything “right” but still don’t feel free. If you’ve ever wondered why awareness hasn’t created the shift you expected, this episode offers a new way to think about healing—one that moves beyond the mind and into the body. Connect with Melanie:  http://www.smithsonclinic.com/ Connect with Marianne: Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave 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 the Middle podcas...

    50 min
  5. It’s Not Too Late to Change Your Life: Debbie Weiss on Letting Go of the Victim Mindset

    May 16

    It’s Not Too Late to Change Your Life: Debbie Weiss on Letting Go of the Victim Mindset

    What happens when you wake up one day and realize your life doesn’t look the way you thought it would? In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with Debbie Weiss, best-selling author, speaker, and host of the Maybe I Can podcast for a deeply honest conversation about what it really takes to change your life in midlife. After decades of caregiving, personal loss, infertility, and feeling defined by her circumstances, Debbie reached a turning point at 50. Not because her life suddenly became easier, but because she made a decision to stop waiting for things to change and start showing up differently. Together, Marianne and Debbie explore:  What a “victim mindset” actually feels like in everyday life  How caregiving and self-sacrifice can quietly disconnect you from your identity  The emotional cost of taking full responsibility for your life  Why small, intentional changes can create powerful momentum  When “taking small steps” can actually become a form of avoidance  What separates women who move forward from those who stay stuck This conversation goes beyond surface-level inspiration and into the real, sometimes uncomfortable truth about change, identity, and what it means to reclaim your life after years of putting yourself last. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to start over, this episode is a powerful reminder that it’s not. Connect with Debbie:  https://www.debbierweiss.com Connect with Marianne: Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave 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 the Middle podcas...

    48 min
  6. The Real Reason You React The Way You Do In Relationships (And How to Change It)

    May 9

    The Real Reason You React The Way You Do In Relationships (And How to Change It)

    In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne sits down with therapist, relationships coach, and emotional safety expert Diane McDowell to explore a powerful reframe: What if the challenges in your relationships aren’t about communication or compatibility… but about emotional safety? Because when emotional safety is missing, everything changes. You can know the tools.  You can have the awareness.  You can want to respond differently. But in the moment, none of it seems to matter. That’s because when the nervous system goes into survival mode, the brain gets hijacked. Logic disappears. And we shift into protection instead of connection. Diane introduces her Brain-to-Heart Code™, a process designed to help you “turn on the safety switch” internally, so you’re no longer relying on someone else to create the conditions you need to feel secure. This conversation explores what it really means to feel safe within yourself, and how that changes everything about how you show up in your relationships. When safety is restored:  You stop reacting from fear  You stop second-guessing yourself in the moment  You stop adjusting who you are just to maintain connection And instead:  You respond from clarity  You communicate from truth  And connection becomes steady, not something you have to earn If you’ve ever felt exhausted in your relationships, or like you’re constantly managing how you show up, this episode offers a grounded and hopeful shift in perspective. Connect with Diane:  https://www.emotionalsafetyco.com/free-tools Connect with Marianne: Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave 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 the Middle podcas...

    42 min
  7. The Relationship That Changes Everything: Learning to Show Up for Yourself in Midlife

    May 2

    The Relationship That Changes Everything: Learning to Show Up for Yourself in Midlife

    What does it actually mean to be in a good relationship with yourself? Not the version you perform for the world. Not the one built on how much you get done or how little you ask for. The one underneath all of that. The one that shapes how safe you feel in your own body, how you respond when things fall apart, and whether you extend even a fraction of the compassion to yourself which you so freely give to everyone else. In this episode of Message in the Middle, I'm joined by Kerisma Vere, holistic wellness coach, author, and founder of Towards Wellness Coaching. Kerisma's work is trauma-informed, deeply compassionate, and built from lived experience navigating trauma, mental health challenges, addiction, and the long, non-linear path back to self-trust. She is the author of The Light Switch Myth: Contemporary Approaches to Creating Lasting Change, the companion journal Ways I Showed Up for Myself, and the creator of the seven-module course From Pressure to Path: A Compassionate Framework for Change. In this episode we explore: Why our self-relationship is the foundation of quality of life and connection with others.The real link between self-worth and coping mechanisms like addictionWhat the 'light switch myth' reveals about how we've been taught to approach change.Why small acts of self-support often matter more than dramatic transformationThe practice of self-gratitude and what it means to acknowledge how you've shown up for yourselfThis episode is for the woman who has spent years caring for everyone else and is just beginning to ask what it might feel like to turn that care inward. You're not behind. You're not broken. And you're not alone. Connect with Kerisma Vere: Website: https://www.towardswellnesscoaching.ca Connect with Marianne: Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave 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 the Middle podcas...

    44 min
  8. Stuck in the Same Patterns? How to Work with Your Subconscious Instead of Fighting It

    Apr 25

    Stuck in the Same Patterns? How to Work with Your Subconscious Instead of Fighting It

    If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Why do I keep doing this?” or “Why can’t I just change this pattern?” Then this episode is for you. Because the truth is, most of us aren’t stuck because we’re broken. We’re stuck because we’re trying to change at the level of the conscious mind… while the real drivers of our behavior live somewhere deeper. In this conversation, I’m joined by clinical hypnotherapist, counseling psychologist, and coach Christine Brodmerkel. Christine helps people understand and work with the subconscious patterns that quietly shape how we think, feel, and respond, often without us even realizing it. We talk about why insight alone doesn’t create lasting change, how long-held patterns can actually be updated, and what it really looks like to work with your subconscious instead of fighting against it. One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is the idea that many of us are unknowingly operating from a subtle internal question: “Is it safe?” And that question can influence everything from our relationships to our confidence, to the risks we’re willing to take. This episode is a grounded, thoughtful look at what real change actually requires and why it’s possible, even if you’ve been carrying the same patterns for years. In this episode, we explore:  Why you keep repeating patterns even when you’re aware of them  The difference between thinking your way out vs. working with the subconscious  How neuroplasticity supports real, lasting change  The subtle ways the question “Is it safe?” shapes your life  What hypnotherapy actually does (and what it doesn’t)  How to begin shifting patterns that feel deeply ingrained If you’ve been doing the work but still feel stuck, this conversation might give you a completely different way to understand what’s going on—and what’s actually possible. Connect with Marianne: Website:  Message In The Middle with MarianneMessage In the Middle Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlistsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966Email:  Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeLeave 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 the Middle podcas...

    48 min
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About

Message in the Middle is a podcast for women navigating the challenges, transitions, and reinventions that often come with midlife.  Hosted by Marianne DeMello-Smith, each episode explores the messy, meaningful moments that shape who we become. Through honest conversations with experts, authors, thought leaders, and everyday women, you'll discover practical insights, inspiring stories, and new perspectives on what it means to grow through life's most difficult seasons. Whether you're facing a career change, caregiving responsibilities, health challenges, grief, relationship shifts, menopause, identity changes, or simply wondering what's next, Message in the Middle offers encouragement, wisdom, and real-world strategies to help you move forward with greater confidence and purpose. Together, we'll explore resilience, personal growth, self-discovery, emotional well-being, and the power of turning life's messes into meaningful midlife messages. Because midlife isn't the end of your story. It may just be the beginning of your next chapter.

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