If you’re looking for encouragement to reinvent yourself after heartbreak, anxiety, divorce, trauma, or midlife disappointment, this episode is for you. In this episode of The More Than Your Age Podcast, Erica Pasvar interviews Heidi K. Brown, author of The Map I Draw, about her journey from lawyer to law professor to speaker, writer, solo traveler, and boxer. Heidi shares how she overcame public speaking anxiety, found healing through boxing and solo travel, and learned how to stop living for everyone else’s expectations. Heidi shares her journey from growing up as the daughter of an Episcopal minister under intense expectations, to becoming a successful lawyer and law professor while secretly battling public speaking anxiety, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and deep emotional wounds. She opens up about experiencing spiritual pressure, navigating a traumatic divorce, surviving heartbreak, facing loneliness, rebuilding after miscarriage, and even how a close brush with 9/11 changed the trajectory of her life forever. Heidi shares how growing up in a highly visible religious household shaped her identity, how she became a lawyer while struggling with severe public speaking anxiety, and how major life events—including divorce, miscarriage, 9/11, family tension, and heartbreak—forced her to reevaluate everything. She also shares how she found healing and empowerment through: Solo travel Boxing Writing Music Therapy Creating non-negotiable “well-being pillars” This conversation is honest, layered, emotional, and incredibly encouraging for any woman wondering if it’s too late to start over. What We Talk About in This Episode Growing up as the daughter of an Episcopal minister Religious pressure, perfectionism, and feeling “on display” How silence, shame, and withheld affection impacted her confidence. Battling intense public speaking anxiety A traumatic divorce and the grief of starting over Miscarriage, loneliness, and hidden pain Her life-changing connection to 9/11 How solo travel became part of her healing journey Why she started boxing at 47 Reinventing herself in midlife Learning to write the “messy stuff” Creating a life around your non-negotiables What it really means to find your voice Connect with Heidi K. BrownWebsite HeidiKristinBrown.com Instagram @IntrovertedLawyer Substack @heidiographyLinkedInHeidi Kristin Brown If this episode encouraged you, be sure to: Follow More Than Your Age Leave a rating and written review Share this episode with a woman who needs encouragement to start again Join the Community💬 Join the More Than Your Age Facebook Community: A space for women redefining what’s possible at every age. Connect with Erica Email // Facebook // Instagram // Linkedin // YouTube Are you curious to learn the piano or want your kid to try it out before spending so much money on individual lessons? My son is loving this program! He’s been playing for a few months and I cannot tell you how INCREDIBLE his skills are this early. I’m impressed. Take a look here! So many of you want to improve your skills, take a new class, or improve your own abilities at work. Master Class has so many classes to get you to where you want to go. Check it out! Visit The More Than Your Age Website and check out our new merch! www.morethanyourage.com Intro and Exit Music written and performed by Daniel Ging. The More Than Your Age Podcast is a motivational podcast for women who refuse to let age define what’s possible. This midlife women podcast shares real stories of reinvention, resilience, and bold new beginnings. If you love motivational women podcasts and are looking for a midlife empowerment podcast or women aging podcast that challenges outdated expectations, you’ll find inspiration here. Each episode features powerful women aging stories podcast conversations that prove it’s never too late to start again.