Transforming 45

What if burnout isn’t a personal failure—but a system design flaw? This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with leadership disruptor Theresa Bailey, founder of Starfish Synergies and North America’s partner for Play-Doh Power Solutions (yes, really). What starts as a surprising conversation about Play-Doh quickly becomes a powerful exploration of leadership, burnout, workplace culture, and why we can’t think our way out of feeling problems. This episode connects the dots between how we lead, how we work, and why midlife women are quietly walking away from workplaces that were never designed for them. 🎧 New episodes drop every Thursday. Listen on all podcast platforms + YouTube. What You'll Learn: Why traditional leadership models are failing (especially for women in midlife) The real reason burnout is skyrocketing across sectors How disconnection from the body impacts communication and culture Why “fixing communication” doesn’t mean more meetings or emails The leadership move that can shift your team starting tomorrow How workplaces can retain experienced women instead of losing them Key Take Aways You can’t think your way out of feeling problems Burnout is often a system issue—not an individual weakness Psychological safety is the foundation of effective teams Small changes (when people feel heard) rebuild trust fast Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about connection Episode Chapters 00:00 Why Play-Doh is disrupting leadership 03:00 Burnout, the body, and why thinking harder isn’t working 07:00 Why workplaces wait for problems instead of preventing them 09:00 Leadership styles that are no longer effective 12:00 Women in leadership, armor, and internalized pressure 16:00 The power of leaders participating with their teams 20:00 Menopause, midlife, and the workforce exodus 24:00 Communication breakdowns (and what’s really happening) 28:00 Why one-off workshops don’t create change 32:00 The simplest leadership shift you can make tomorrow 37:00 Final reflection: building systems for humans About Theresa Bailey Theresa Bailey is the founder of Starfish Synergies and the exclusive North American partner for Play-Doh Power Solutions. She helps organizations rethink leadership, communication, and burnout by bringing people out of their heads and into real human connection. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresabailey/ Website: www.starfishsynergies.com Book a call: https://calendly.com/theresa-bailey/time-with-theresa Let's Stay Connected Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 📧 [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your burnout isn’t about doing too much…but about believing your value comes from being needed? This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Dr. Julie Merriman—PhD, Certified Sex Counselor, trauma specialist, and creator of Soul Joy™—for a conversation that goes way deeper than “self-care.” They unpack the virtuous woman trap: the lifelong conditioning that teaches women to over-function, over-give, and override their own needs… until they don’t even feel themselves anymore. This episode is about nervous system survival, emotional numbness, identity loss—and what it actually takes to come home to yourself again. 🎧 New episodes drop every Thursday Listen on all podcast platforms + YouTube In this episode we talk about: The “good girl” conditioning that wires women for burnout Why high-achieving women feel empty (even when they’re successful) What “functional freeze” actually looks like in real life The moment Lisa realized: “I don’t feel my feet” Why you can’t think your way out of a feeling problem How disconnection impacts intimacy, desire, and relationships The truth about masculinity, safety, and emotional regulation Empty nest grief and identity loss in midlife What it means to “have a homecoming” back to yourself Key Takeaways: You are not broken. Your nervous system adapted to keep you safe. But the life you want? It requires more than survival—it requires coming back into your body. Connet with Julie Merriman: Dr. Julie Merriman, Ph.D., LPC-S, CSC is a counselor educator, author, speaker, and clinician with over 25 years of experience helping high-achieving women break free from burnout and self-sacrifice. She is the creator of Soul Joy™, host of the Compassion Fatigue Cure podcast, and author of: In Pursuit of Soul Joy Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? (Spring 2026) Her work blends neuroscience, somatics, and real-life application to help women reconnect to desire, identity, and pleasure in midlife. 🔗 Learn more: https://juliemerrimanphd.com 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliemerriman/ 🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjuliemerriman 🔥 In This Episode, We Talk About:💥 Key Takeaway👤 About Julie Merriman🎙️ Let’s Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467📩 Email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do wine and parenting have in common? More than you think. In this insightful and surprisingly funny conversation, Lisa sits down with luxury wine expert and author Danielle Frank to explore how the language of wine can help us rethink how we raise humans. From control and expectations to identity, independence, and imperfection—this episode challenges modern parenting norms and reminds us that growth isn’t about perfection… it’s about becoming. What We Explore: Why kids (like wine) need space to breathe The hidden pressure of “perfect parenting” How expectations can quietly damage relationships Why community—not control—raises healthy humans The power of letting go and trusting the process What “faults” teach us about identity and resilience Standout Moments: “The majority of your relationship with your child will be with them as an adult.” “Sometimes the best thing you can do… is step back and let it breathe.” “We teach kids how to behave—but also what to expect from others.” “It’s not failure. It’s evolution.” “Imperfection doesn’t ruin the bottle—it makes it unique.” About Danielle: Danielle Frank is a luxury wine and spirits expert with over 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at Moët Hennessy and Bacardi. She is the author of A Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting—a witty, insightful book that blends wine terminology with real-life parenting wisdom. 🔗 Connect with Danielle: instragram @createagreatstory    website: www.daniellefrankauthor.net Available on all podcast platforms + YouTube Connect with Lisa: Website: https://liberatedmenopause.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 📩 Email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if exhaustion isn't the price of success? This week on Transforming 45, Lisa sits down with Maria Angelova, creator of the Angelova Method, fitness professional, former corporate leader, and passionate advocate for helping people reconnect with their bodies. After years of pushing through stress, sleeplessness, anxiety, and burnout, Maria experienced a series of wake-up calls that forced her to question everything she thought she knew about achievement, productivity, and wellness. Together, Lisa and Maria explore: ✔ Why so many high-achieving women mistake burnout for success ✔ The hidden ways stress shows up in the body ✔ How perimenopause invites us to rethink our priorities ✔ The connection between movement, emotions, and nervous system regulation ✔ Why self-awareness is the foundation of healing ✔ Small daily practices that create profound change ✔ The role of rebellion in becoming your authentic self ✔ How to stop living on autopilot and start living intentionally Memorable Takeaways: Your body is not working against you. The symptoms, tension, exhaustion, and emotional overwhelm many women experience are often signals pointing toward what needs attention, healing, and change. Midlife isn't the end of your story. It may be the first time you're finally writing it for yourself. Connect with Maria: Website: www.rebelliousstudio.com/ LI: www.linkedin.com/in/mariamangelova/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/mind.body.expert YT: https://www.youtube.com/@themindbodyexpert FB: https://www.facebook.com/maria.angelova.39750 Freebie: https://www.rebelliousstudio.com/opt-in Connect with Lisa: Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 Email: [email protected] New episodes drop every Thursday on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you stop trying to hold it all together… and start laughing instead? This week, Lisa sits down with Kara Murray—aka MediocreMom76—former teacher turned viral content creator and now stand-up comedian. Kara built a massive audience by telling the truth about motherhood, menopause, and the absolute chaos of midlife—and people felt it. In this episode, we explore what happens when you stop striving for perfection and start embracing “good enough.” What You’ll Hear: The accidental creation of the “Menopause Hotline” (and why it exploded) Why midlife unlocks confidence you didn’t have before Teacher ➡️ creator ➡️ comedian: how reinvention actually happens The mental load, brain fog, and identity shifts of menopause Body image, generational patterns, and what we pass to our kids Why comedy might be one of the most powerful forms of advocacy Letting go of perfection and embracing “mediocre”  Key Takeaways: You don’t have to suffer in your body Reinvention isn’t reckless—it’s necessary “Good enough” is more powerful than perfect Midlife isn’t shrinking you—it’s expanding you Laughter is connection—and we need more of it About Kara Murray: Kara Murray (MediocreMom76) is a former teacher turned social media personality and emerging stand-up comedian. She shares honest, hilarious takes on motherhood, menopause, and midlife identity, building a community through truth and humour. Connect with Kara: Instagram: @mediocremom76 Merch Shop: https://mediocremom76.com/ Let’s Stay Connected: Website: https://www.liberatedmenopause.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lboate/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leaninfindyourwayhome/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245092311417467 Email: [email protected] #Menopause #MidlifeTransformation #Perimenopause #WomenOver40 #Transforming45 #MidlifeReinvention #MenopauseSupport #Podcast #WomenInMidlife #Confidence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices