Plenty with Kate Northrup 137: From Coach to Performer: A Story of Midlife Becoming with Chela Davison
Have you ever realized that the identity you’ve built—the one that’s kept everything running—might also be the very thing keeping you from your next becoming?
In this week’s episode of Plenty, I get to sit down with someone who has witnessed me through many of my own becomings: my longtime friend and former coach, Chela Davison. Our conversation is an intimate, funny, deeply human exploration of midlife unraveling as an initiation into deeper truth, creative recovery, and a fuller expression of self.
Chela and I trace the arc of her journey from being the hyper-capable, endlessly resilient woman who could “make anything happen,” to the moment her internal generator finally sputtered out—and how that collapse ushered her into a two-year wintering season that ultimately birthed her acclaimed one-woman show, A Little Bit Much. We talk about the illusion of the breadwinner, the stories we project onto our partnerships, and the internalized cultural narratives that quietly shape our sense of worth.
We also explore what it means to be “a little bit much” in a world that often prefers women palatable and contained—how to preserve our aliveness without overwhelming ourselves or others, and how to move from performative productivity into regenerative creativity. Chela’s story is a living example of following the energy, listening for what wants to be created, and allowing art to heal the artist first.
This episode is full of laughter, truth telling, permission, and the kind of midlife wisdom that only comes from letting something fall apart so something truer can emerge.
I can’t wait for you to listen.
In this episode you’ll discover:
✨ Over-identifying with resilience led to burnout
✨ Creative recovery came from stepping back and slowing down
✨ Challenging and redefining breadwinner narratives
✨ Embracing being “a little bit much” as strength
✨ Creative growth comes from staying with the process
“I looked around and asked myself, ‘Who am I willing to disappoint to get my life back?’ And the first person I realized I was willing to disappoint… was me.” — Chela Davidson
🎤 Let’s Dive into the Good Stuff on Plenty 🎤
00:00 – Introduction to Resilience & Identity
00:26 – Guest Background & Creative Recovery
03:00 – Turning 40, Maturity & Evolving Identity
05:12 – Childhood Messaging & Self-Perception
07:35 – Career Success, Challenges & Vulnerability
09:13 – Burnout, Loss & Identity Crisis
11:51 – Reclaiming Creative Life Force
13:07 – Resentment, Breadwinning & Gender Expectations
16:21 – Healing Through Vulnerability & Relationship Dynamics
19:17 – The Influence of Patriarchy & Processing Resentment
21:25 – Creative Recovery, New Projects & Self-Discovery
27:22 – Vulnerability in Creative Processes & Community
38:19 – Social Media, Creative Resistance & Staying With the Work
44:18 – Art, Healing & Creative Integrity
50:42 – The Journey of Art, Commerce & Creative Community
54:49 – Closing Thoughts & Resources
Links and Resources:
Connect with Chela Davison:
Website
Wizdotainment
A Little Bit Much
Instagram
✨ The Money Reset: Feel Good with Money—No Matter How Much You Make
Rewire your nervous system for wealth, stop the money-in/money-out cycle, and create sustainable abundance. Includes the 5-Minute Calm Cashflow Ritual.