The Midlife Momentum Podcast

Maybe you've noticed... Cold plunges are having a moment.Ice baths. Cold showers. Cold water swimming.My daughter has been cold plunging daily since the holidays.And depending on who you follow, cold plunges are either the answer to everything… or completely unnecessary suffering.So I decided to plunge into the data (pun totally intended😉)... Specifically any studies related to cold water and women in midlife.🎙️ In this episode, I’m breaking down:What cold plunges actually do to your nervous system 🧠Why women experience cold very differently than men 🌡️The temperature range you should be aware of 🧊What the research says about cold and mood, anxiety, sleep, and menopause symptoms 💭If you’ve ever wondered "Should I be doing this?” or “Am I missing out?”, this episode is for you.Keep moving forward and stay chill (couldn't help but fit one more in 😉),DebbieP.S. Curious about working with me? Book a time to talk, it's always free: https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultationIf you'd like to find out more about me and what I do, visit me at www.debbieharbeccoaching.com ,Email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com,Find me on Instragram @debbieharbec, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/debbie.harbec.coach

What if motivation isn’t coming?Not for the gym.Not for eating well.Not for getting to bed earlier.Not for doing the things you know would help you feel better.What if waiting for that “I finally feel like it” moment is actually the thing keeping you stuck?That’s what I explore in this week’s podcast episode - the first of the new year!Listen to find out...Why I believe motivation is overratedThe quiet thing that actually creates changeA simple mindset shift that’s carried me through years of not feeling like itThis isn’t about willpower or pushing harder.And it’s definitely not about perfection.It is about what works in real life.Keep moving forward with movement (NOT motivation),Debbie 💜P.S. Curious about working with me? Book a time to talk, it's always free: https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultationIf you'd like to find out more about me and what I do, visit me at www.debbieharbeccoaching.com ,Email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com,Find me on Instragram @debbieharbec, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/debbie.harbec.coach

As this year winds down, I’ve noticed something in myself.I definitely don’t feel brand new (or need to feel that way).I don’t feel broken either. I feel… changed.There are parts of me that feel strong and steady, and parts that feel a little tender.Parts that feel energized, and parts that feel slower than they used to.And instead of fighting that, and trying to overhaul myself in January, I’ve decided on something different.I’m letting go of the idea of resetting.And doing something stronger... I’m reclaiming.Reclaiming my strength, even where it looks different than it once did.Reclaiming my relationship with my body, without "fixing" or changing it.Reclaiming confidence that doesn’t come from fixing or shrinking or improving myself into worthiness.That’s what this week’s podcast episode is about.It’s an invitation to step into the new year without pressure, without punishment, and without pretending you’re someone you’re not.Keep moving forward with resilience,Debbie 💜P.S. Curious about working with me? Book a time to talk, it's always free: https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultationIf you'd like to find out more about me and what I do, visit me at www.debbieharbeccoaching.com ,Email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com,Find me on Instragram @debbieharbec, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/debbie.harbec.coach

There’s something I need to admit.I love ❤️ Hallmark movies.Especially the holiday movies.🎄🎄🎄I mean I REALLY love them.They just feel soooo good! ☺️Every time I watch one, it's like my body lets out a sigh.It's the sound of relaxing and letting go.I used to joke about my Hallmark habit, thinking it was a guilty pleasure.But today I'm unpacking why Hallmark movies can actually be good for your health.💡Not in a fluffy way, but in a real, science-backed way.I'm talking about:✨What your brain recognizes almost immediately, before you even realize it✨Why your body responds differently to this kind of story✨The part of midlife stress we don’t talk about enough✨What that quiet sense of relief is really telling youIf you’ve ever curled up on the couch and thought, “This feels good, but I probably shouldn’t be doing this,” this episode is for you.No guilt. No shame. Just permission to enjoy what helps you feel steady again.And know, I'm right there with you.Keep move forward with resilience,DebbieP.S. Curious about working with me? Book a time to talk, it's always free: https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultationIf you'd like to find out more about me and what I do, visit me at www.debbieharbeccoaching.com ,Email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com,Find me on Instragram @debbieharbec, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/debbie.harbec.coach

Kelly Nolan, a former attorney turned time management strategist, shares insights from her Bright Method designed for professional women. She highlights the importance of making the 'invisible load' of daily tasks visible, using digital calendars to reduce mental clutter. Kelly discusses realistic time estimation techniques to avoid overwhelm and improve decision-making. She reveals how better visibility of workload can enhance relationships and offers practical advice, like time-blocking mornings, to reclaim control over one’s schedule.

Every day, I get marketed to...Especially about losing belly fat in midlife.Supplements, diets, detoxes, and quick-fixes to "fix" my midlife body shape.Now, there's nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight or fat, but the amount of advice, noise, and straight-up nonsense out there is unreal.So this week on the podcast, I’m pulling the curtain back and walking you through what’s worth listening to and what you can confidently ignore.In this episode, we get into:✨ The red flags that instantly tell you a weight-loss tip is garbage✨ The myth of hormone balance✨ How to tell the difference between what works and what doesn't✨ What messages are worth paying attention toIf you’re tired of feeling confused or second-guessing yourself, this one will help you breathe easier and get grounded in real physiology, not marketing.And if you know someone who keeps getting sucked into the diet-culture vortex, feel free to forward this their way.Clarity is contagious.Keep moving forward,DebbieP.S. Curious about working with me? Book a time to talk, it's always free: https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultationIf you'd like to find out more about me and what I do, visit me at www.debbieharbeccoaching.com ,Email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com,Find me on Instragram @debbieharbec, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/debbie.harbec.coach

This week’s episode is one I know is going to land deeply for so many of you.I sat down with Sairan Aqrawi, an engineer and business strategist who works with women in midlife to help them uncover their gems: Talents, passions, and purpose they’ve pushed aside for decades, often without even realizing it.She even had me appreciating my own gems that I'd ignored!Talking to her was refreshing, empowering, and her energy was contagious.Here’s what you'll take away from this conversation:✨ Why so many women hit their 50s and feel stuck, and what’s actually behind that feeling✨ How to uncover the gifts you’ve buried under years of work, caregiving, and responsibilities✨ The mindset shift that turns “side hustle” into something far more meaningful✨ What stops most women from pursuing the thing they truly want✨ Why action - even messy, uncomfortable action - is the antidote to feeling stuckSairan blends engineering logic with deep emotional insight, and it makes for such an energizing and grounding conversation.If you’ve been feeling a pull toward “more” or if you’re wondering what’s next for you, or if you’ve been doubting whether it’s too late… This one is going to light something up inside you.Enjoy the episode, and let me know afterward what gem inside you is ready to be brought to the surface.Keep moving forward with passion and purpose,DebbieP.S. You can also find this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/8_HhJ2C6_QoHere's Sairan's bio:Sairan Aqrawi is an engineer and business strategist helping professionals - especially midlife women - gain clarity, confidence, and strategic direction to reinvent their careers and leadership paths. Combining engineering precision with business foresight, she empowers individuals and organizations to make smart, data-driven decisions that fuel growth and sustainability. Through her coaching and mentorship, Sairan transforms challenges into opportunities, guiding clients to step into leadership with purpose, confidence, and lasting impact.To connect with Sairan:Website: https://www.sairanaqrawi.com/Instagram: : https://www.instagram.com/sairanaqrawiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sairan-aqrawi-m-sc-993bb61a3/Thanks for listening!If you'd like to know more about working with me, visit me at https://debbieharbeccoaching.com/ or https://www.instagram.com/debbieharbec/ on Instagram.Or book a time to talk with me:https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultation

I’ll be honest, I’ve never really spent time around horses.So when I first heard about equus coaching, I was intrigued (and a little skeptical).How could working with a horse possibly help someone get to know themselves better?But after talking with Sue Willoughby, a certified Equus Coach, I totally get it now.The conversation opened my eyes to how deeply intuitive and responsive horses are, and how they reflect what’s really going on inside us.Sue explained that, unlike us humans, horses don’t judge or overthink. They sense our energy, our emotions, even our hidden tension, and mirror it right back.It’s fascinating and it’s powerful.In this episode, you’ll learn:✨ Why horses are such powerful mirrors for your emotions and energy✨ How being around them can reveal your boundaries (or lack of them)✨ What happens when you drop your guard and just be yourself✨ How you can use this kind of awareness to recreate yourself, gain confidence, and feel freeThis conversation left me thinking about how often we mask what we’re really feeling.And how being seen for who we truly are is the definition of freedom.Keep moving forward with presence and authenticity,DebbieP.S. You can also find this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/PpKGVVLQa-wHere's Sue's bio:Sue Willoughby is a truth-teller, boundary-breaker, and certified Equus Coach® who helps women over 40 stop playing small and start living like they mean it. With horses as her co-facilitators, she cuts through the noise to help clients reconnect with their power, ditch burnout, and trust their instincts. Sue brings real talk, deep heart, and a no-fluff approach to personal transformation. Based outside Seattle with her horse Moose and two mini-Dachshunds, she’s here to help you stop surviving and start showing up for your life.To connect with Sue:Website: https://www.willoughbycoaching.com/Instagram: : https://www.instagram.com/sue_willoughby/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willoughbycoachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suewilloughby/Thanks for listening!If you'd like to know more about working with me, visit me at https://debbieharbeccoaching.com/ or https://www.instagram.com/debbieharbec/ on Instagram.Or book a time to talk with me:https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultation

So, you find yourself cleaning the sink.It wasn't what you'd planned, but you just noticed it needed a good scrubbing.And it saved you from going to the gym, having a tough conversation, or recording a podcast episode (guilty!)This is procrasti-cleaning.It feels good in the moment, but leaves you wondering why you feel so unsatisfied in life.In this week’s episode we dig into:✨ Why we do these sneaky, “productive” avoidance behaviors in the first place✨ The brain trick that makes them feel satisfying (but unfulfilled)✨ What you're missing by being "busy"✨ How to stop procrasti-cleaning so you can finally get healthier, fitter, and more present, without adding more to your to-do listI heard this term recently, and knew I had to do this episode.Please pass it on to the procrasti-cleaners in your life.Keep moving forward,DebbieP.S. Curious about working with me? Book a time to talk, it's always free: https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultationIf you'd like to find out more about me and what I do, visit me at www.debbieharbeccoaching.com ,Email me at debbie@debbieharbeccoaching.com,Find me on Instragram @debbieharbec, or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/debbie.harbec.coach

We tend to think of grief as something that only shows up when someone we love dies.Yet, as Edy Nathan, psychotherapist and author of “It’s Grief: The Dance of Self-Discovery Through Trauma and Loss”, shared with me in this week’s podcast conversation, grief shows up in every major transition.Especially in midlife when our identity, desires, and bodies start shifting in ways we didn’t expect.In this episode, we talk about:✨ Why grief isn’t a problem to fix, but a natural response to change✨ How ignoring grief can show up as anxiety in the body and mind✨ How grief shows up as we feel less desired or even invisible as we age✨ What Edy calls “sexual grief”… when shifts in desire, comfort, or pleasure feel like a loss of who we were✨ How to begin healing through curiosity, connection, and community instead of silenceThis conversation opened my eyes in a huge way.I learned that grief is not here to take us down, and in fact when we name it and allow it to walk beside us, it can actually guide us toward growth and the next version of ourselves.Enjoy this episode and keep moving forward,DebbieP.S. You can also find this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4_-yc4l1jTsHere's Edy's bio:Edy Nathan is a trusted voice in the fields of grief, trauma, and sexuality, with over 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist, speaker and author of “It’s Grief: The Dance of Self-Discovery Through Trauma and Loss”. Her compassionate, insightful approach has made her a sought-after expert featured in major media outlets such as NBC, Psychology Today, and Thrive Global. Whether addressing the complexities of loss, the intersection of trauma and sexuality, or the long-term effects of grief, Edy offers insights that are both relatable and deeply transformative.To connect with Edy:Website: https://edynathan.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edynathan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdyNathanPsychotherapy/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edy-nathan/Thanks for listening!If you'd like to know more about working with me, visit me at https://debbieharbeccoaching.com/ or https://www.instagram.com/debbieharbec/ on Instagram.Or book a time to talk with me:https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultation