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  • Ep. 171 You Don't Have To Leave Yourself At The Door with Ashley Randall

    Ep. 171 You Don't Have To Leave Yourself At The Door with Ashley Randall
    2026/11/11

    You Don't Have to Leave Yourself at the Door

    Guest: Ashley Randall | The Beauty In The Mess Podcast

    Content note: Ashley briefly mentions experiencing abuse as a child and as an adult. She does not go into detail.

    Have you ever been told to leave your personal stuff at the door when you walk into work? What if bringing your whole self is actually what makes you good at your job?


    In this episode, Michele Simms welcomes Ashley Randall, founder of Aspiring Redirection, a leadership and organizational culture consulting practice. Ashley has more than 20 years of experience in human services, she is a neurodiverse mom of six, and she is writing a memoir series called The Echo Effect.


    Ashley grew up moving from place to place, often feeling like she didn't have a voice. Today, she brings her lived, educational, and professional experience to the table to help organizations have honest conversations, look at the root cause of culture problems, and lead in a more human-first way.


    Ashley shares practical tools for setting boundaries at work, choosing your battles, and making time for yourself without the guilt. She also talks about finding her voice as a young woman in male-dominated rooms, and realizing that no degree or milestone defines her credibility. She does.


    IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

    - Turning hard life experiences into empathy and purpose

    - Why getting uncomfortable is where change happens

    - Treating employees as whole people, not cookie cutters

    - Meeting different needs in a neurodiverse household

    - Setting boundaries at work without walking on eggshells

    - Choosing your battles and the 15-minute brain dump

    - Self-care, guilt, and giving yourself grace

    - Big visions, small steps, and "What's your moon landing?"

    - Finding your voice and defining your own credibility

    - Why people get stuck, and why doors can reopen


    A POWERFUL REMINDER


    You don't have to reach a certain milestone to have a voice. The messy middle is where your strength is built, and you get to decide your own value.


    EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

    00:00 - Introduction to Ashley Randall

    02:45 - Meet Ashley

    03:45 - The Echo Effect and finding her voice

    04:45 - How lived experience shaped her work

    07:15 - Aspiring Redirection and changing workplace culture

    09:15 - Getting uncomfortable is where change happens

    12:15 - What being a mom of six teaches about leadership

    16:15 - Why "leave it at the door" doesn't work

    18:15 - What neurodiversity means to Ashley

    20:45 - Setting boundaries at work

    23:45 - Choosing your battles and the brain dump

    26:45 - Managing stress and taking care of yourself

    29:45 - Making 15 minutes a day for you

    32:45 - Letting go of the guilt

    34:45 - Big vision, small steps, and the moon landing

    38:45 - Systems that weren't built for people like us

    40:45 - Fighting to be taken seriously as a young woman

    45:45 - Your voice is forged in the messy middle

    49:45 - Doors can reopen

    51:15 - Why people get stuck

    52:45 - Ashley's businesses and her memoir series


    CONNECT WITH ASHLEY RANDALL


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiring-redirection/


    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aspiringredirection/


    Book series: The Echo Effect (Book 1: The Silence Before the Sound, coming soon)


    CONNECT WITH MICHELE SIMMS

    Website: thebeautyinthemess.com

    Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess

    LinkedIn: Michele Simms

    Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast


    RATE AND REVIEW

    If this episode spoke to you, please follow the podcast, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and consider leaving a five-star review.


    #TheBeautyInTheMess #MicheleSimms #AshleyRandall #AspiringRedirection #HumanFirstLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #Boundaries #Burnout #Neurodiversity #FindYourVoice

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    57 分
  • Ep. 170 When Parenting Doesn't Come With A Roadmap with Radhika Achari

    Ep. 170 When Parenting Doesn't Come With A Roadmap with Radhika Achari
    2026/11/04

    When Parenting Doesn't Come With a Roadmap


    Guest: Dr. Radhika Achari | The Beauty In The Mess Podcast


    What do you do when the future you planned suddenly feels out of reach? And what happens when parenting looks nothing like you imagined?


    In this episode, Michele Simms welcomes Dr. Radhika Achari, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with more than 15 years of clinical experience and the founder of Analyze & Act.


    Radhika's road to motherhood included a year and a half of IVF during COVID, when she was told her chances were slim to none. She decided to start her PhD at the same time, giving herself structure and something she could control. Later, as the mom of a neurodivergent son, she found herself in burnout, still having to tell her son the same things a hundred times.


    So she turned the tools she used with her clients toward her own home. Instead of micromanaging, she started asking what one skill was missing, and taught it one small step at a time. Morning checklists, packing his own snack, and laying out his clothes for the week gave her son more independence and gave Radhika room to breathe.


    That experience led her to create Bridge to College Independence, an eight-week program that helps neurodivergent teens and their parents prepare for life after high school.


    IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

    - Coping with uncertainty and depression during IVF

    - Using structure and purposeful distraction during hard seasons

    - Parenting through burnout and exhaustion

    - Shifting responsibility from parent to child, one skill at a time

    - Involving kids in cooking to build curiosity and motivation

    - Why planning ahead can ease anxiety for kids who struggle with uncertainty

    - Breaking big goals into small, five-minute steps

    - Self-advocacy, accommodations, and readiness for college

    - Why the best time to start building independence is now


    A POWERFUL REMINDER


    You don't have to have everything figured out to move forward. Sometimes the biggest changes start with one small step, and with giving the people we love the chance to do a little more on their own.


    EPISODE TIMESTAMPS


    00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Radhika Achari

    02:35 - Meet Radhika

    03:35 - An unexpected path to parenthood through IVF

    06:35 - Using behavior analysis to cope with IVF

    09:35 - Starting a PhD in the middle of IVF

    10:35 - Hard pregnancies, two under two, and getting creative

    14:35 - Involving a neurodivergent child in cooking

    19:35 - How Top Chef became a family connection

    22:35 - Parents are the experts on their child

    26:35 - When kids resist: finding the why behind behavior

    28:35 - Breaking big goals into small steps

    29:35 - Rose, bud, and thorn reflection

    32:35 - Helping parents step back as teens step up

    33:35 - Client success stories

    34:35 - Parent burnout and shifting responsibility to kids

    39:35 - Routines, rewards, and building independence

    42:35 - Planning ahead to ease anxiety

    44:35 - Inside Bridge to College Independence

    47:35 - Hard wins and finding your why

    50:35 - Connecting with Radhika


    CONNECT WITH DR. RADHIKA ACHARI


    • Website: analyzeandact.com
    • Instagram: @analyze_and_act
    • Facebook: Analyze & Act parenting group : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572233982888
    • Program: Bridge to College Independence


    CONNECT WITH MICHELE SIMMS


    • Website: thebeautyinthemess.com
    • Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess
    • LinkedIn: Michele Simms
    • Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast


    RATE AND REVIEW


    If this episode spoke to you, please follow the podcast, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and consider leaving a five-star review.


    #TheBeautyInTheMess #MicheleSimms #RadhikaAchari #AnalyzeAndAct #ParentingNeurodivergentKids #ParentBurnout #RaisingIndependentKids #IVFJourney #CollegeReadiness #YouAreNotAlone

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    50 分
  • Ep. 169 Rethinking Possible with Becky Galli

    Ep. 169 Rethinking Possible with Becky Galli
    2026/10/28

    Rethinking Possible: When Life Doesn't Go as Planned

    Guest: Becky Galli | The Beauty In The Mess Podcast


    What happens when life looks nothing like the one you imagined? How do you move forward when loss, grief, and unexpected challenges change everything?


    In this episode, Michele Simms welcomes author, columnist, and resilience advocate Becky Galli for an honest conversation about navigating life's most difficult seasons.


    After losing her younger brother in a tragic accident, Becky faced additional challenges, including raising children with special needs, divorce, and transverse myelitis, a rare spinal cord condition that left her paralyzed from the waist down.


    Through writing, relationships, and perseverance, Becky discovered how to rethink what might still be possible.


    Becky doesn't believe everything happens for a reason. Instead, she reminds us that acknowledging suffering and finding meaning afterward are two very different things.


    "Life can be good no matter what."


    As Becky explains, the most important word is "can." Finding goodness takes effort, support, and time.


    IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:


    Why everyone experiences grief differently


    Finding meaning without minimizing suffering


    How to support someone who is grieving


    The importance of structure, companionship, and community


    Recognizing isolation and learning to accept help


    How writing helped Becky discover purpose


    Finding hope when life doesn't go as planned


    A POWERFUL REMINDER


    You don't have to be grateful for everything you've experienced to find something meaningful in how you move forward.


    Sometimes resilience means acknowledging life's difficulties, allowing others to walk beside you, and remaining open to new possibilities.


    EPISODE TIMESTAMPS


    00:00 - Introduction to Becky Galli

    02:35 - Becky's unexpected life journey

    03:35 - Losing her brother and understanding grief

    05:35 - Special-needs parenting, divorce, and paralysis

    07:35 - Finding purpose through writing

    09:35 - Does everything happen for a reason?

    12:35 - Supporting someone through grief

    13:35 - Rethinking Possible: Love over loss

    15:35 - Morning Fuel: Daily encouragement

    16:35 - Losing Without Losing It

    17:35 - Storytelling and family memories

    20:35 - Finding connection and community

    23:35 - Helping others through difficult experiences

    25:35 - Three steps for navigating loss

    27:35 - Structure and companionship during grief

    29:35 - Accepting help and finding support

    35:35 - Protecting relationships

    37:35 - Connecting with Becky


    #TheBeautyInTheMess #MicheleSimms #BeckyGalli #RethinkingPossible #Resilience #GriefAndHealing #FindingHope #LifeAfterLoss #FindingPurpose #YouAreNotAlone


    CONNECT WITH BECKY GALLI


    Website: beckygalli.com

    Books: Rethinking Possible, Morning Fuel, and Losing Without Losing It (in progress)


    CONNECT WITH MICHELE SIMMS


    Website: thebeautyinthemess.com

    Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess

    LinkedIn: Michele Simms

    Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast


    RATE AND REVIEW


    If this episode spoke to you, please follow the podcast, share it with someone who needs encouragement, and consider leaving a five-star review.


    #TheBeautyInTheMess #MicheleSimms #BeckyGalli #RethinkingPossible #Resilience #GriefAndHealing #FindingHope #LifeAfterLoss #FindingPurpose #YouAreNotAlone

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    40 分
  • Ep. 168 The Past Is Over So Why Does It Still Hurt with Nicky Yazbeck

    Ep. 168 The Past Is Over So Why Does It Still Hurt with Nicky Yazbeck
    2026/10/07

    The Past Is Over So Why Does It Still Hurt?


    Why do old experiences still affect our confidence, relationships, and ability to speak up, even when we think we’ve moved on?


    In this episode of The Beauty In The Mess, I sit down with Nicky Yazbeck, a licensed, trauma-informed EMDR therapist and podcast host, to explore the connections between past experiences, people-pleasing, and the belief that we’re somehow “not enough.”


    Nicky explains EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and walks us through what a session can look like. We discuss emotional triggers, the importance of feeling safe with your therapist, and how healing can change the way you show up for yourself and others.


    If you’ve ever wondered why the same patterns keep repeating, this conversation offers a starting point for understanding them.

    In this episode:


    • How childhood experiences can shape beliefs about ourselves
    • People-pleasing, self-abandonment, and seeking approval
    • What EMDR involves beyond eye movements
    • Why trust, preparation, and pacing matter in therapy
    • Finding a qualified therapist you feel comfortable with
    • What progress can look like in everyday relationships


    02:05 Meet Nicky and hear her path to becoming an EMDR therapist

    04:05 What EMDR stands for and how Nicky describes trauma

    07:05 People-pleasing, perfectionism, and relationship patterns

    10:05 Self-worth and the belief that “I’m not enough”

    14:05 What an EMDR session can look like

    17:05 Emotional triggers and physical reactions

    18:05 Eye movements, tapping, and the EMDR process

    23:05 Trauma, memory gaps, and preparing for therapy

    27:05 How long EMDR therapy can take

    32:05 Choosing a qualified therapist and finding the right fit

    35:05 Noticing changes in your reactions and relationships

    37:05 Nicky’s personal experience with EMDR

    39:05 Safety, trust, and working with a licensed therapist

    41:05 What healing and feeling more connected can look like

    44:05 Nicky’s podcast and how to connect with her

    46:05 When additional preparation or specialized care may be needed


    ✨ Connect with Nicky Yazbeck

    • Website: www.nickyYyoga.com

    •Podcast: The Connected Community: Exploring Possibility (https://www.youtube.com/@TheConnectedCommunity/videos)

    • YouTube: Watch Nicky’s podcast


    ✨ Connect with Michele Simms

    • Website: The Beauty In The Mess

    • Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess

    • LinkedIn: Michele Simms

    • Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast


    💬 Rate & Review

    If this episode spoke to you, please like and subscribe and consider giving a 5-star review.

    #TheBeautyInTheMess #NickyYazbeck #EMDR #TraumaHealing #MentalHealth #SelfWorth #PeoplePleasing #PersonalGrowth #HealingJourney

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    49 分
  • Ep. 167 When Marriage Becomes a To-Do List: Finding Your Way Back to Each Other with Katie Doles

    Ep. 167 When Marriage Becomes a To-Do List: Finding Your Way Back to Each Other with Katie Doles
    2026/09/30
    When Marriage Becomes a To-Do List: Finding Your Way Back to Each Other


    What happens when you're great at managing everything in your life, but that same drive for control starts showing up in your marriage?


    In this episode of The Beauty In The Mess, I sit down with Katie Doles, Marriage Strategist and founder of Rooted Wife Coaching.


    We talk about something many driven women may recognize: taking charge, doing everything ourselves, and then becoming frustrated when our husbands step back.


    Katie and I explore control, resentment, communication, intimacy, date nights, overscheduled lives, community, and creating a home that feels like a sanctuary rather than another source of stress.


    Faith is also central to our conversation as Katie shares how her relationship with Jesus shapes her views on marriage, grace, forgiveness, boundaries, and loving someone imperfectly.


    2:30 – Meet Katie and her path to marriage coaching

    5:30 – What she looked for in a husband—and herself

    6:30 – Faith, marriage, and covenant

    8:30 – Problem-solving and relationship patterns

    10:30 – Turning off “work mode” at home

    12:30 – When taking charge becomes managing your husband

    13:30 – She steps up, he steps back—and resentment grows

    16:30 – Why changing the dynamic takes more than a conversation

    17:30 – Letting go of control so your spouse can step up

    19:30 – Letting your husband do things his way

    21:30 – Can a marriage recover from resentment?

    22:30 – Marriage coaching vs. therapy

    24:30 – The “roommate/business partner” phase

    25:30 – “If everything's a priority, nothing's a priority”

    27:30 – Overscheduled kids and families

    30:30 – Why your spouse can't meet every social need

    32:30 – “Fika,” friendship, and meaningful connection

    34:30 – Making the first move in friendship

    37:30 – Why date nights matter

    39:30 – Emotional, spiritual, and physical intimacy

    41:30 – Withholding what your spouse needs

    43:30 – Creating a home sanctuary

    45:30 – The impossible standards we set for ourselves

    47:30 – Faith, forgiveness, kindness, and grace

    49:30 – Boundaries and unconditional love

    52:30 – What does a beautiful marriage look like?

    53:30 – “Daily sleepovers with your best friend”

    55:30 – Disagreeing without disrespect

    56:30 – Rooted Wife Coaching and Cultivating a Beautiful Marriage

    58:30 – Why proactive work matters


    ✨ Connect with Katie Doles

    • Rooted Wife Coaching

    • Facebook

    • Instagram

    • YouTube


    ✨ Connect with Michele Simms

    • Website: The Beauty In The Mess

    • Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess

    • LinkedIn: Michele Simms

    • Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast


    💬 Rate & Review

    If this episode spoke to you, please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing it with someone who could use a little encouragement in their marriage.

    #KatieDoles #RootedWifeCoaching #TheBeautyInTheMess #Marriage #ChristianMarriage #Relationships #MarriageAdvice #FaithAndMarriage

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 1 分
  • Ep. 166 When Everything Falls Apart: Building A Live You Never Planned with Missy Moritz

    Ep. 166 When Everything Falls Apart: Building A Live You Never Planned with Missy Moritz
    2026/09/23
    When Everything Falls Apart: Building a Life You Never PlannedWhat happens when the life you worked so hard to build suddenly falls apart?My guest on this episode of The Beauty In The Mess is Melissa Moritz, better known as Messie Missy. Melissa spent more than 20 years in executive leadership and ultimately became CEO of a $75 million healthcare company. Then, within a relatively short period of time, she lost her career, businesses, financial security, home, marriage, and much of the identity she had built around that life. In this incredibly honest conversation, Missy shares what it really looked like to hit a point where simply getting out of bed, eating, showering, and putting on clean clothes could feel like accomplishments.We talk about divorce, depression, motherhood, financial devastation, faith, identity loss, asking for help, entrepreneurship, and what happens when a highly successful woman suddenly has to redefine what success even means.But this isn't a perfectly packaged comeback story.Missy is still rebuilding.Today, she's using what she's learned to help other midlife women rebuild their confidence, income, and independence. Through her Mess to Momentum framework, she helps women recognize the value in their own experience and expertise and use it to begin building something of their own. This conversation is about losing the life you thought you'd have, surviving the part nobody sees, and eventually allowing yourself to believe that maybe you can build something beautiful again.2:30 – Meet Missy and how dramatically her life changed 5:30 – Going from successful CEO and entrepreneur to suddenly starting over 8:30 – Divorce, financial devastation, and losing the life she thought she'd built 11:30 – What happens to your identity when the titles and success disappear 14:30 – Depression and the reality of simply trying to function day to day 17:30 – Learning to ask for and accept help when you're used to being the strong one 20:30 – Raising teenagers while trying to hold herself together 23:30 – Faith and what kept Missy moving forward during her darkest period 26:30 – The shame and vulnerability of struggling after being highly successful 29:30 – Losing relationships and discovering who remained when everything changed 32:30 – Why Missy decided to share her rebuilding journey publicly 35:30 – Separating your identity from your career, marriage, and accomplishments 38:30 – Rebuilding confidence when you no longer recognize yourself 41:30 – Money, independence, and what Missy wishes more women understood before divorce 44:30 – Redefining success in this season of her life 47:30 – Turning decades of experience into something valuable after losing the job title 50:30 – Building the Messie Missy brand and her Mess to Momentum framework 53:30 – Helping midlife women rebuild income, identity, and independence 56:30 – Why rebuilding doesn't mean recreating the life you had before 59:30 – Allowing yourself to dream and set goals again 1:02:30 – What Missy wants women in the middle of their own mess to know 1:05:30 – Moving forward without allowing the hardest chapter to become your entire storyOne of my favorite things Missy said:“This is always gonna be part of my story, but I don't wanna keep retelling that story anymore. I really want to tell a beautiful story. I wanna tell something new.”✨ Connect with Missy MoritzWebsite: https://www.messiemissy.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.comThe Messie Missy Podcast – Find it through her website and your favorite podcast platform.Email: melissa@messiemissy.com✨ Connect with Michele Simms• Website: thebeautyinthemess.com • Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess • LinkedIn: Michele Simms • Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast💬 Rate & ReviewIf Missy's story encouraged you, please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing this episode with someone who needs the reminder that heartbreak doesn't have to be the end of their story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 4 分
  • Ep. 165 Love Is Not Luck: What 54 Years of Marriage Taught Belle Gayer

    Ep. 165 Love Is Not Luck: What 54 Years of Marriage Taught Belle Gayer
    2026/09/16
    Love Is Not Luck: What 54 Years of Marriage Taught Belle Gayer What does it really take to make love last? In this episode of The Beauty In The Mess, I sit down with Belle Gayer, author of Are Relationships For Suckers?, to talk about what she has learned through more than five decades of marriage, and seven years of answering relationship questions online for millions of readers. Belle believes one of the biggest mistakes we make is expecting lasting love to feel like the beginning of a relationship forever. The excitement of new romance changes, but that doesn't necessarily mean love is gone. In fact, it can be the beginning of something much deeper. We talk about communication, unrealistic expectations, emotional and physical intimacy, technology and disconnection, sex as we age, resentment, compromise, red flags, the temptation to believe the grass is greener, and why sometimes being happy is more important than being right. Belle also shares why she believes soulmates aren't simply found. They're built, and why the little things we do every day can matter more than grand romantic gestures. Whether you're married, dating, single, struggling in a relationship, or simply curious about what makes love last, this conversation may challenge some of what you've been taught about romance. 02:35 – Meet Belle and the story behind Are Relationships For Suckers? 04:35 – Seven years answering relationship questions and reaching millions 06:35 – Why relationships and human connection are struggling today 08:35 – Phones, social media, and what technology is doing to intimacy 12:35 – Are people too quick to give up on relationships? 14:35 – Unrealistic expectations about “true love” 16:35 – Belle’s four pillars of a lasting relationship 18:35 – What happens when the honeymoon stage ends 22:35 – Boredom, stability, and staying curious about one another  24:35 – Why couples need deeper emotional connection  27:35 – The grass isn’t always greener—and the baggage follows you  29:35 – When is it actually time to leave a relationship?  31:35 – Red flags we overlook when we’re falling in love  32:35 – “Life intimacy” and sharing everyday life together  34:35 – Attraction, aging, and seeing the person you originally fell in love with  36:35 – Physical affection that doesn’t always have to lead to sex  37:35 – Belle’s belief that soulmates are built, not magically found  40:35 – Ego, blame, defensiveness, and resentment  42:35 – Why emotional intimacy matters to physical intimacy  44:35 – Understanding how your partner experiences love  46:35 – Listening instead of jumping to conclusions✨ Connect with Belle Gayer· Are Relationships For Suckers? — Official Website https://www.arerelationshipsforsuckers.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belle.gayer?utm_source=chatgpt.com· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belle-gayer-40babb20a?utm_source=chatgpt.com· Quora: Braver Than I Knew Journal· Belle's book, Are Relationships For Suckers?, is available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover formats.· Belle's book has also received Gold in Self Help–Motivational and Bronze in Self Help–Happiness at the Global Book Awards, along with multiple five-star Readers' Favorite reviews. ✨ Connect with Michele Simms• Website: thebeautyinthemess.com• Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess• LinkedIn: Michele Simms• Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast💬 Rate & ReviewIf Belle's story encouraged you, please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing this episode with someone who needs the reminder that heartbreak doesn't have to be the end of their story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    56 分
  • Ep. 164 Braver Than She Knew: Starting Over At 58 with Cathy Collier

    Ep. 164 Braver Than She Knew: Starting Over At 58 with Cathy Collier
    2026/09/09

    Braver Than She Knew: Starting Over at 58

    What happens when the life you thought you’d have suddenly isn’t your life anymore?

    In this episode of The Beauty In The Mess, I sit down with author, speaker, and educator Cathy McCoy Collier, who found herself starting over at 58 after more than 30 years of marriage.

    After years of betrayal and trying to save her marriage, Cathy finally reached her limit. Walking away meant facing fears she had avoided for decades: living alone, managing money, making decisions by herself, grieving the family life she thought she would have, and discovering who she was outside of being a wife.

    Cathy shares honestly about infidelity, gray divorce, self-worth, fear, faith, loneliness, friendships, dating again, and the surprisingly small moments that helped her realize she could build a life of her own.

    We also talk about her faith-based journal, Braver Than I Knew, which grew out of her own healing journey and is designed to help women navigate divorce, loss, major life changes, and unexpected new beginnings.

    Cathy’s story is a reminder that sometimes bravery doesn’t feel brave at all. Sometimes it’s simply taking one step when you have no idea what comes next.


    2:20 – The moment Cathy knew she had finally reached her limit5:20 – Filing for divorce after more than 30 years of marriage6:20 – The fear of starting over financially at 589:20 – How divorce ultimately brought Cathy back to her faith11:20 – Finding the counselor who helped her begin healing14:20 – Protecting her adult sons while telling the truth about the divorce16:20 – Learning to make decisions alone after 32 years as part of a couple19:20 – The moments Cathy believes prepared her to finally leave20:20 – The humiliation of infidelity and realizing “His sin is not my shortcoming” 21:20 – Grieving the family and future she thought she would have27:20 – Losing relationships and discovering who was really in her corner29:20 – Rebuilding her self-worth and creating new boundaries31:20 – Why Cathy named her book Braver Than I Knew32:20 – Why the first brave step is the hardest 33:20 – Freedom, loneliness, and adjusting to life on her own35:20 – Learning that she no longer needs someone else to feel complete 37:20 – How faith became central to Cathy’s healing42:20 – Trusting herself, trusting God, and finally being able to exhale46:20 – Dating after 50 and the lighter side of starting over50:20 – Inside Cathy’s 52-week journal, Braver Than I Knew54:20 – Cathy’s advice when you don’t feel brave enough to take the first step56:20 – Gray divorce and knowing when you’ve finally had enough59:20 – Why Cathy has never regretted leaving



    ✨ Connect with Cathy McCoy Collier

    · https://www.braverthaniknew.com

    · Instagram: @braverthaniknew

    · Facebook: Braver Than I Knew Journal

    · Email: cathycollier.author@gmail.com



    ✨ Connect with Michele Simms


    • Website: thebeautyinthemess.com

    • Instagram: @the.beauty.in.the.mess

    • LinkedIn: Michele Simms



    • Facebook Group: The Beauty in the Mess Podcast
    💬 Rate & Review

    If Cathy's story encouraged you, please consider leaving a 5-star review and sharing this episode with someone who needs the reminder that heartbreak doesn't have to be the end of their story.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 5 分