Late Bloomer Living Podcast

You’re Not Alone: The Power of Sharing Midlife Stories

Midlife has a way of surfacing questions many women have carried quietly for years — about identity, desire, change, and who they’re becoming now.

In this episode, Yvonne is joined by writers and editors Dina Aronson and Dina Alvarez, co-editors of Midlife Private Parts, a deeply honest anthology that reflects the many ways women experience midlife.

Together, they explore what happens when women stop editing themselves and start telling the truth — about reinvention, menopause, friendship, pleasure, invisibility, grief, creativity, and growth.

This conversation is a reminder that midlife isn’t something to get through or fix — it’s something to inhabit fully.

If you’ve ever felt unsure, stuck, or quietly wondered if you were alone in how you’re feeling…
this episode is for you.

 

Reclaiming Yourself After Years of Overgiving with Wendy Perrotti

The Real Reason You Keep Saying Yes When You Mean No - And What to Do About It

 

Many women spend decades being the reliable one — the helper, the fixer, the one who always says yes. Somewhere along the way, it can start to feel exhausting… and a little confusing.

In this episode of Late Bloomer Living, I’m joined by returning guest Wendy Perrotti, a master-level certified coach, speaker, and author who helps women over 50 create what’s next in their lives. Together, we explore why people pleasing isn’t a personality flaw — it’s a coping strategy shaped by culture, values, and a desire to feel safe and needed.

 

We talk about:

• Why overgiving often feels so hard to let go of
  
• How thought patterns keep people-pleasing in place
  
• What healthy boundaries actually look like (and why they don’t have to feel harsh)
  
• Why midlife is such a powerful moment for reclaiming yourself
• How play and experimentation can gently guide reinvention

Wendy also shares the story behind her new book, Keep the Tomato — a grown-up picture book for people pleasers — and how learning to “keep a few tomatoes for yourself” can change everything.

If you’ve been feeling tired of always being the one who gives, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and permission to begin choosing yourself again.

Letting Go of the Script in Midlife with Marc Ronick

Why trying something scary can unlock your next chapter

What happens when you give yourself permission to be a beginner again — in midlife?

In this episode of Late Bloomer Living, Yvonne Marchese is joined by her friend Marc Ronick for a candid conversation about play, fear, and reinvention.

After more than 20 years in podcasting, Marc decided to try something that genuinely scared him: improv classes. What began as a way to stretch his skills as a live podcaster quickly became a powerful personal practice — helping him loosen perfectionism, reconnect with play, and navigate a challenging season of growth in his 50s.

Together, Yvonne and Marc talk about:

• What it’s really like to walk into a room as a beginner later in life
• How improv helped Marc show up more fully — on the mic and in life
• Building a generous, supportive community through The Podcasting Morning Chat
• Producing a podcasting conference for the first time in midlife
• Why passion has to be bigger than fear if we want to grow

This episode is a reminder that play isn’t frivolous, being scared doesn’t mean you’re wrong, and midlife may be the perfect time to let go of the script and try something new.

Why Play Matters in Work — and Life with Brandi Heather

Most of us don’t think of ourselves as playful — especially at work.

Play can feel awkward, indulgent, or like something we were supposed to outgrow. But what if that discomfort is actually pointing us toward something essential?

In this episode of Late Bloomer Living, Yvonne Marchese sits down with playful change maker Brandi Heather to explore why play feels so uncomfortable for adults — and why that resistance might be exactly the clue we’re missing.

For many of us, the word work no longer fits the shape of our lives — or it fits very differently than it once did. Careers change. Some end. Some slow down. But the work of living doesn’t stop. And neither does our need for creativity, connection, and a sense of aliveness.

Brandi spent over 20 years as a kinesiology and health sciences professor before bringing her work into organizations, helping teams use play (often without calling it that) to reduce stress, improve communication, and unlock creativity. This isn’t about ping-pong tables in the break room or forced fun. It’s about nervous system regulation, self-awareness, resilience, and creating environments — at work and beyond — where people feel confident, connected, and capable of doing their best work.

If you’ve ever thought, “Play sounds nice, but I have deadlines,” this conversation is for you.

This episode matters because play isn’t a luxury — it’s a missing piece in how we work, cope, and stay human as adults.

Choosing Curiosity in an Anxious World with Lynn Borton

What if curiosity isn’t just something we feel — but something we choose?

 

In this thoughtful conversation, Yvonne sits down with Lynn Borton, host of Choose to Be Curious, to explore how curiosity can help us slow down, soften anxiety, and reconnect with a sense of wonder. Together, they talk about choosing curiosity over fear, embracing not-knowing, and why staying curious might be one of the most powerful practices for navigating midlife and an uncertain world.

Wear the Sparkle: Style, Confidence & Permission at Midlife

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m too old to wear that” — or noticing how easy it is to slowly disappear in midlife?

In this special holiday replay from Salty Sisters, the livestream I cohost with my friend Cat Corchado, we’re joined by the incredible Jennifer Polt, founder of Making Up for Glossed Time and a two-time guest on Late Bloomer Living.

Yes, this conversation starts with style — sequins, leopard print, metallic boots, and holiday outfits — but it quickly becomes something much deeper — and relevant all year long.

Jennifer isn’t really talking about clothes.  She’s talking about permission.

Permission to play.
Permission to take up space.
Permission to stop dressing — and living — like you’re trying to disappear.

Together, Cat, Jennifer, and I explore what happens in midlife when roles shift, confidence wobbles, and we’re quietly asking ourselves, Is this all there is? We talk about style as self-expression, confidence as a practice, and how small choices — even what you put on your body — can help you reconnect with who you’re becoming.

This episode is for anyone navigating midlife, or a season of reinvention — and wanting to feel a little more alive, expressive, and at home in their own skin.

✨ If this conversation sparks something in you and you want to explore playfulness beyond your closet, you can join the PLAYshop waitlist at latebloomerliving.com/play.

Go put on something that makes you feel good.
And remember — you’re not done yet.

My Midlife Joy Experiment

How Play Is Helping Me Feel Alive Again

 

Do you ever feel like all the fun got squeezed out of adulthood? Like the to-do lists and responsibilities have taken over and there’s no energy left for joy?

In this short solo episode, I’m sharing my Midlife Joy Experiment — my personal journey of bringing more play back into my life in my fifties. From learning to dance on roller skates (yes, I broke my elbow and yes, I’ll be back on them!) to discovering new ways to feel free and creative while I heal, this exploration has been surprising, healing, and downright fun.

I’m not a play expert — this is a real-life experiment in what helps us feel alive again. And I hope it inspires you to reconnect with your own joy, curiosity, and sense of playfulness… even in small ways.

✨ Want to go deeper? Join the waitlist for the Unlocking Playfulness PLAYshop:
https://www.latebloomerliving.com/play 

If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who could use a spark of joy today.

Let me know…. What’s one thing that makes you feel alive again?

Becoming a First-Time Filmmaker at 50+ with Beth Barany

What would happen if you finally said yes to the thing you’ve been dreaming about for years?

 

In this episode, Yvonne talks with award-winning novelist and creativity coach Beth Barany, who is stepping into a bold new creative chapter. At 50+, Beth is becoming a first-time filmmaker as she turns her fantasy adventure novel, Henrietta the Dragon Slayer, into a proof-of-concept short film — the first step toward a potential TV series.

 

Beth shares the true behind-the-scenes story of a dream nearly two decades in the making:
✨ The moment she dared to say her dream out loud
✨ Why she decided not to wait for Hollywood
✨ How she built a filmmaking team without previous experience
✨ The power of curiosity to guide your next step
✨ What it feels like to finally see her character come to life on screen
✨ Why our most exciting reinventions often happen in midlife

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “too old” to start something new — this conversation is your reminder that you are right on time. You don’t need permission. You get to greenlight yourself.

 

🔗 Learn more about Beth’s project: https://author.bethbarany.com/henrietta-short-film/

🌼 Want more play and joy in your life?

Join the PLAYshop waitlist: https://www.latebloomerliving.com/play 

A Calmer, Kinder Way to Approach Thanksgiving

Gratitude Feeling Forced? Try This Instead.

 

This Thanksgiving, I’m trying a little experiment. Instead of forcing gratitude, I’m approaching the holiday like a game—using appreciation to see people as they really are, not as I wish they’d be.

In this episode, I share the simple appreciation practices I’m playing with, why I think they’ll make the day feel lighter, and how you can try them too.

I also invite you to check out last week’s episode about the difference between gratitude and appreciation, and to join the PLAYshop waitlist if you want more curiosity, creativity, and ease in your everyday life. Sign up at https://www.latebloomerliving.com/play

When Gratitude Lists Don’t Work...

If Your Gratitude List Feels Stale, You’re Not Alone

 

We’re often told that gratitude is the answer to everything — write a list, feel better, repeat.

But what happens when the list doesn’t change a thing?

In this solo episode, I share a personal moment that cracked open a new understanding for me about gratitude, appreciation, and the way our minds work when we’re overwhelmed. Instead of trying to force myself into feeling grateful, I stumbled into a different approach that helped me reconnect with the present moment in a much more honest, grounded way.

 

This isn’t an episode about toxic positivity or pretending everything’s fine.

It’s about noticing what’s real, finding small openings when you feel stuck, and learning how appreciation can quietly shift your emotional state in ways gratitude sometimes can’t.

 

You’ll hear:
✨ Why gratitude practices sometimes fall flat
✨ The surprising mindset shift that softened my “dark cloud” morning
✨ How appreciation can help you feel more present and less pressured
✨ A simple experiment you can try this week (no journaling required)

 

Whether you’re navigating holiday stress, feeling overwhelmed, or just craving a gentler way to support your own well-being, this episode offers a compassionate invitation to slow down and reconnect with what’s right in front of you.

 

Tune in, try the experiment, and see what opens.

🌼 Bloom like you mean it.