In this episode of Message in the Middle, I sit down with Marcia Heath, professional editor, writer, and founder of Bungalow Hill. Marcia’s career was the kind most people would envy—publicist at Simon & Schuster, executive editor at Harcourt, brand strategist for startups and Fortune 500s. But by her early sixties, she found herself burnt out and questioning what came next.

Then came Aruba and a small, soulful surf shop that changed everything.

Marcia’s debut book, The Little Giant: The Story of Aruba’s Surf Shop and the Rebels Who Built It, is more than a story about a store—it’s a celebration of risk-taking, reinvention, and the surprising places inspiration can live.

💬 In this episode, we talk about:

• How a “successful” career can still leave you feeling unfulfilled—and what to do when burnout hits in midlife
• Why The Little Giant was the book Marcia had circled her whole life, but only found the courage to write now
• The emotional and practical hurdles of publishing your first book later in life
• Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and starting over at sixty
• The surprising lessons we learn when we step away from our corporate life and toward creativity
• A message of hope and courage for anyone who feels like they’ve missed their chance
• How writing changed Marcia’s perspective—and her life

✨ Whether you're standing at a crossroads or simply looking for permission to dream again, this episode will meet you in the middle—with honesty, wisdom, and warmth.

🔗 Connect with Marcia Heath
Visit Bungalow Hill: https://www.bungalow-hill.com/
Explore The Little Giant: https://littlegiantbook.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

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In this episode of Message in the Middle, Marianne is joined by Shannon Russell, a woman who truly understands what it means to pivot with purpose. Shannon is a Career Transition and Business Coach, speaker, author of Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life, and the host of the Second Act Success Career Podcast.

Shannon’s own path has taken her from producing for major networks like MTV, E!, TLC, and Yahoo!—to launching a successful STEM franchise for kids—and now, coaching women through their own major life and career transitions. Through her story and expertise, she helps women redefine success on their own terms and embrace the opportunity that lies in their next chapter.

We talk about:

• What led Shannon to make bold moves in her own career—and how she knew it was time
• The less obvious signs that might be nudging you toward a change
• Why so many of us tie our worth to a job title—and how to begin unraveling that
• Exercises to help you identify your true strengths, apart from the roles you’ve been playing
• What a thoughtful exit strategy looks like (and why you need one)
• How generational shifts are changing the way women think about reinvention
• And one message Shannon hopes every listener walks away with

Whether you're actively planning your second act or just starting to ask “what else might be possible?”—this conversation is packed with insight, encouragement, and practical tools to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Connect with Shannon Russell:

• Website: www.secondactsuccess.co
• Book: Start Your Second Act — Available on Amazon
• Podcast: Second Act Success Career Podcast
• Instagram: @secondactsuccess
• LinkedIn: Shannon Russell

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:

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Welcome back to Message in the Middle! I’m your host, Marianne, and Today I’m joined by Dr. Michelle Maidenberg—psychotherapist, TEDx speaker, adjunct professor at NYU, author, and passionate advocate for mindfulness and emotional wellness.

In this episode, Dr. Maidenberg and I dive into the powerful concept of emotional avoidance—what it looks like in everyday life, why we do it, and how to move through uncomfortable emotions instead of shutting them down. We also unpack what it really means to feel stuck, how to spot it (even when it’s not obvious), and what practical steps we can take to get unstuck and create meaningful change.

You’ll also hear about Michelle’s inspiring nonprofit, Thru My Eyes, where she helps chronically ill individuals leave behind a meaningful legacy through free guided video storytelling. Plus, she shares her best advice for sustaining personal growth and the most valuable piece of wisdom she’s ever received.

If you’re ready to step out of autopilot, face your feelings, and live with more intention, this conversation is for you.

Topics We Cover:

• What emotional avoidance really is—and how it shows up
• The difference between managing vs. avoiding difficult emotions
• How to know when you’re stuck (and how to get out of it)
• Why change can feel hard—and how to make it stick
• The powerful impact of legacy work through Thru My Eyes
• The best advice Dr. Maidenberg has ever received

Connect with Michelle:

• Website
• Psychology Today Blogger
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn

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:

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• Spotify
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In this heartfelt episode of Message in the Middle, I’m joined by Lisa Sugarman — an author, nationally syndicated columnist, mental health advocate, and founder of The HelpHUB. Lisa has survived the unimaginable, losing three loved ones to suicide, and she’s turned that deeply personal pain into a powerful mission: to make mental health support more accessible, human, and real.

Together, we dive into the raw truths of grief, suicide loss, and the emotional journey that follows. Lisa shares how her experiences led her to create The HelpHUB, what she’s learned from connecting with other survivors, and the one major shift she believes we need in how we talk about mental health.

If you’ve ever felt isolated in your mental health struggles — or you’re supporting someone who is — this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone.
We talk about:

• Navigating anger, guilt, and unanswered questions after suicide loss
• Why accessible mental health resources like The HelpHUB are crucial
• How to better support loved ones who may be struggling silently
• The healing power of storytelling and connection

This episode is real, honest, and filled with hope. Lisa’s story and advocacy work are a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, there’s a way forward — and sometimes, the road to healing becomes the road to helping others.

Connect with Lisa: https://linktr.ee/thelisasugarman

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:

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Joining Marianne today is Dr. Denise Brown—a Stanford-trained physician, author, former CEO and Chief Strategy Officer, and board advisor to seven- and eight-figure companies.

Dr. Brown brings over three decades of experience in healthcare and leadership, but what truly sets her apart is her commitment to helping high-achieving women redefine success, prioritize self-care, and navigate maternal overwhelm without burning out. Her new book, The Fairy God Doctor’s Guide to the Good Life: A Prescription for the Working Woman, offers a thoughtful, practical approach to thriving—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

In this conversation, we dive into:

• Why she felt now was the time to write this book—and what inspired it
• A few small but powerful “prescriptions” that women can start using right away
• The pressure of “having it all” and how to actually create balance instead
• Subtle signs of burnout that many women miss until it’s too late
• How to redefine success and let go of outdated expectations
• Why so many ambitious, capable women still struggle to put themselves on the list
• How Dr. Brown personally recognized it was time to shift her own path

Whether you're juggling work, caregiving, leadership, or all of the above, this episode offers wisdom, reassurance, and a reminder that you deserve to feel good in your own life.

Connect with Dr. Brown https://thefairygoddoctor.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

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Today’s episode is both powerful and personal. I’m joined by Erica Neubert Campbell, a breast cancer survivor, seasoned cancer advocate, and Executive Director of the Pinky Swear Foundation—a nonprofit that supports families with children battling cancer.

Erica lost her mother to breast cancer and later faced her own diagnosis, giving her a unique, multi-layered perspective that she describes as speaking “the vocabulary of cancer.” In her honest and insightful memoir, The Mastectomy I Always Wanted, Erica shares the raw truth of her mastectomy journey, blending vulnerability with practical guidance to help others feel seen, heard, and supported.

In this conversation, we explore the role of fear, choice, and trust in medical decisions, the emotional impact of mastectomies on identity and body image, and how Erica found unexpected silver linings along the way. She also opens up about why she’s sharing her story now, and how she’s using her voice to support others—especially women navigating breast cancer and the deeply personal choices that come with it.

This one’s for anyone who’s been touched by breast cancer, is facing hard choices, or simply wants to feel inspired by resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

💬 What We Talk About in This Episode:

• What it means to “speak the vocabulary of cancer”
• How a decade of scary mammograms led to Erica’s decision
• Mastectomy vs. lumpectomy—how fear and trust factored in
• Common misconceptions about mastectomy and recovery
• Why she titled her memoir The Mastectomy I Always Wanted
• How fear, choice, and trust shaped her experience
• Body image and identity after mastectomy
• Silver linings in the breast cancer journey
• The mission of the Pinky Swear Foundation
• Erica’s goal in sharing her story and supporting others

👉 Learn more about Erica https://www.ericaneubertcampbell.com/ and her book The Mastectomy I Always Wanted at: https://a.co/d/iB4QYYv

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:

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In today’s episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to build a business that’s in full alignment with your values, your energy, and your purpose. My guest, Katie Krimitsos, is the founder and CEO of the Women’s Meditation Network—a powerhouse brand that reaches millions of listeners every month with guided meditations designed to help women and children manage stress, sleep better and create intentional lives.

In this honest and inspiring conversation, Katie shares the real story behind her pivot from the successful Biz Women Rock brand to launching a global meditation network. We dive into the power of the pause, energy management, and how to navigate fear and uncertainty when you're following your inner knowing—even when the path ahead isn't clear.

Katie opens up about:

• The moment she knew it was time to shift directions
• Trusting herself even when she was scared
• Why all decisions are good decisions
• Her "secret sauce" of energy management
• How she balances hustle with intuition
• Scaling a business while staying aligned with her core values
• The biggest myth about meditation that holds people back
• Why Katie feels so passionate about meditation

Whether you’re a purpose-driven entrepreneur, a busy woman looking for more calm in your day, or someone standing at a personal crossroads, this episode is full of insights and encouragement to help you move forward with intention.

🎧 Tune in to hear how Katie built a top 0.1% podcast empire—without sacrificing herself in the process.

👉 Learn more about Katie at WomensMeditationNetwork

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:

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• YouTube

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Today we’re challenging the conventional wisdom around health, aging, and what it means to live life on your own terms.

Joining me is Gregory Anne Cox—though most know her simply as Greg. For over 22 years, Greg has been coaching women in both the health and wellness space as well as in business. She believes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to health and that standing up for your body, your style, and your choices is an act of rebellion. In this episode, Greg and I explore why embracing a rebellious mindset is the key to thriving in midlife and beyond.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What it means to take a rebellious approach to health and aging and why you should take that approach.
• The most common obstacles holding people back from transformation and how to overcome them.
• The top three things on the minds of people in their second half of life according to Greg's recent survey.
• Why Greg believes that everything is food and how this philosophy can change your life.
• The one piece of advice she wishes she had 30 years ago.
• A sneak peek into what the Rebellious Wellness Over 50 podcast is all about.

Connect with Greg: Rebellious Wellness Lifestyle

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:

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• 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.

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