The Midlife Momentum Podcast

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

You’re trying to remember groceries, doctors’ appointments, meetings, bills, and somewhere in there, you’re also supposed to take care of yourself. It's like you've got this invisible checklist that never stops running.It's called your mental load, and research shows it’s one of the biggest reasons women in midlife feel so tired, stressed, and scattered.And there's science to back up this phenomenon, and how, combined with perimenopause and menopause, it can lead so many of us to feel unwell mentally and phyically.So let's dig into... ✨ Why women carry more of the mental load (and how it affects your health) ✨ What the science says about menopause and cognitive changes ✨How planning can actually free your brain ✨ Simple ways to offload and protect your energy So, if your brain feels cluttered and overwhelmed, or your to-do list seems never-ending, this episode is your for you - or someone you care about.It's a reminder that you don’t have to carry it all, and an invitation to start right now to put down what you shouldn't be carrying.Keep moving forward with a lightness in your step,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.coachHere are the references and resources mentioned in this episode:Haupt, A. & Gelbgiser, D. (2023). The gendered division of cognitive household labor, mental load, and family–work conflict in European countries. https://www.andreas-haupt.com/publication/coglabesSorkhabi, S. et al. (2024). Cognitive household labor: Gender disparities and consequences for maternal mental health and wellbeing. Archives of Women’s Mental Health. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00737-024-01490-wJudd, H. L. et al. (2012). Hormonal environment affects cognition independent of age during the menopause transition. Cerebral Cortex. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22730514Weber, M. T. et al. (2021). Menopause and cognitive complaints: Are ovarian hormones linked with subjective cognitive decline? Menopause. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33719785Harvard Health Publishing. (2023). Menopause and brain fog: What’s the link? https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/menopause-and-brain-fog-whats-the-link

Do you ever feel like your mood depends on what the scale says in the morning? 😣If that number can make or break your day, this week’s episode is for you.In this compact but powerful episode, I share how to stop scale to measure success so that you can reach your goals.Here’s what I cover:✨ Why the number on the scale doesn’t reflect your real progress💪 Better ways to know you’re getting fitter and leaner🧘‍♀️ How to divorce yourself from the number once and for all❤️ How to build confidence and freedom through connection to your bodyIf you’ve ever stepped on the scale and thought, “Ugh, I’m failing,” I want you to know that you are not a number.You are a whole, strong, beautiful woman in progress. 💫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-consultationP.P.S. Enjoying this podcast and want to express your appreciation? You can buy me a tea ☕... I'd love it! https://buymeacoffee.com/debbieharbecIf 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 are times in our lives when we ask ourselves questions, like...Why am I here, in this body, in this life?What's the meaning of this life anyways? What's my purpose?I've asked myself these questions often in my life, and they've inspired this week’s deep-ish episode. Because I think we all, at times, are searching for meaning, and especially in midlife. So, join me as I share: 🌿 Why I left a career over a decade ago to find a deeper sense of purpose 💗 How meaning has evolved for me, from family and connection, to service and legacy 💫 Why so many of us still feel like we’re not doing enough, and begin to question our existence ✨How I've come to the conclusion that meaning isn’t something you find, it’s something you are This episode is part reflection, part permission slip.Keep moving forward with meaning and purpose,DebbieP.S. Curious about working with me? Book a time to talk, it's always free: https://calendly.com/debbie-harbec-coaching/free-consultationP.P.S. Enjoying this podcast and want to express your appreciation? You can buy me a tea ☕... I'd love it! https://buymeacoffee.com/debbieharbecIf 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

Hey there,Here's an MVP (most valuable podcast) episode from earlier this year.It's actually the most popular episode EVER on this podcast!All about Joan MacDonald and her incredible journey.Here we go...Do you know Joan MacDonald (@trainwithjoan)?If you’ve ever thought, “It’s too late for me to change,” I can’t wait for you to hear this episode.At 70, Joan was overweight, struggling with high blood pressure, and facing the reality of declining health.Instead of accepting it, she made a decision that would change her life: She picked up weights, revamped her nutrition, and lost 70 pounds.Now, at 79, she’s in the best shape of her life, rocking serious muscle definition, living her dream of travel, and inspiring over 2 million people on Instagram.In this episode, Joan shares:🚀 The mindset shifts that helped her break free from limiting beliefs about aging💪 Why she believes in weight training at every age🥗 How she's used smart nutrition to transform her body📸 Why she’s no longer afraid to step in front of the camera✈️ How she’s making bigger plans now than she ever didIf you’ve ever doubted what’s possible for you, Joan is proof that you can rewrite your story at any age.I know that listening to Joan will change the way you think about aging, strength, and what’s possible for you.Keep moving forward with strength and vitality,DebbieHere's Joan's bio:Joan MacDonald is living proof that it’s never too late to transform your life. At the age of 70, Joan faced serious health issues, so she decided to sit in the driver's seat and take back control.Through consistency and discipline, Joan shed over 70 pounds, built strength—both physically and mentally—and redefined what aging can look like. Today, she inspires a community of over 2 million people worldwide, proving that real change IS possible at any stage of life.Her message is simple: Resilience, self-love, and small, daily actions lead to lasting transformation. By sharing her journey through workouts, nutrition insights, and motivation, she has built a thriving community that supports and uplifts one another.Joan MacDonald is more than a fitness inspiration—she’s a testament to what’s possible when you commit to yourself, regardless of your age.To connect with Joan:Website: https://www.trainwithjoanofficial.com/aboutInstagram: @trainwithjoan👉 Download my free guide: 6 Game-Changing Strategies to Lose Weight and Build Strength in Perimenopause and MenopauseP.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