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In this week's Midlife with Courage Podcast™ Kim talks with Angela Burk, a retired B2B marketer who wrote Real Girls Guide to Midlife after finding a 20-year-old “red folder” of questions. They discuss divorce, grief, perimenopause rage, self-publishing, “together living apart,” and saying no.

- Midlife change, courage, and messy “middle” journeys
- Menopause symptoms, identity shifts, and reclaiming pleasure
- Practical mindset reset: let go of one thing, reclaim one thing; “I’m not available”

00:00 Feeling Alone in Midlife (and the Missing ‘Messy Middle’)
00:34 Podcast Intro: Midlife With Courage + What to Expect
00:52 Meet Angela Burk: Career, Family, and the Book That Came Back
03:23 Courage Moment #1: Ending a Marriage and Choosing Happiness
04:47 Courage Moment #2: Retiring, Finding the Folder, and Writing the Book
06:03 Stop Overplanning: Trust Yourself and Just Start
06:46 Why Women Put Everyone Else First (and How to Unlearn It)
09:11 Midlife Overload: Hormones, Kids, Parents, Career—All at Once
10:36 Reclaiming Yourself After Divorce + Menopause Run-Up in Your 40s
13:56 Strength, Grief, and Letting Go of Shame Around Change
17:10 Why Angela Wrote the ‘Real Girl’ Midlife Guide (Not a Celebrity Story)
19:04 Perimenopause Rage: When It Hits and Why It’s So Scary
21:40 The ‘Wave Three’ Surprise: Symptoms After Your Period Stops
22:45 Letters to Her Boys: Repair, Memory, and Self-Forgiveness
23:38 A Fiancé in Australia: Making Long-Distance Love Work
25:08 ‘Together Living Apart’: Rethinking Midlife Relationships
28:11 Pleasure, Sex, and Being a ‘Whole Person’ in Midlife
31:15 Where to Get the Book + The Manifesto: Let Go & Reclaim
33:14 Practice Saying No: ‘I’m Not Available’ (Final Takeaways & Goodbye)

You can read Angela's blog and buy her book on her WEBSITE.

Support the show

Kim Benoy is a retired RN, Certified Aromatherapist, wife and mom who is passionate about inspiring and encouraging women over 40. She wants you to see your own beauty, value and worth through sharing stories of other women just like you.

If this podcast inspires you and makes you think, “She’s talking to me,” there’s a place where these conversations continue. The Midlife with Courage™ community is the podcast—plus deeper connection, encouragement, and support. It’s a safe, uplifting space to be inspired, share honestly, and grow alongside women who truly get this season of life.

Midlife with Courage™ Community

Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Flourishing After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:

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This week, Kim recaps February’s resiliency theme and guests, reminding midlife women not to minimize pain and to validate their own experiences.

Highlights:
- Tasha Schuh: life-changing accident, powerful voice
- Michelle Walters: love, loss, hypnotherapy pivot
- Kristen Crabtree: leaving abuse, finding courage
- Invitation: Courage & Confidence Circle starts March 3 (midlifewithcourage.com)

00:00 Welcome to Midlife with Courage (Resiliency Month Recap Begins)
00:45 Week 1 Spotlight: Tasha Schuh’s Powerful Story of Resilience
01:24 Week 2 Spotlight: Michelle Walters on Love, Loss & Hypnotherapy
02:00 Week 3 Spotlight: Kristen Crabtree on Leaving an Abusive Relationship
02:42 What Resilience Looks Like: Your Stories, Strengths & What You’ve Overcome
03:00 Stop Comparing Struggles: Don’t Minimize Your Pain
04:32 Reclaiming Yourself in Midlife: From Shame to Self-Worth
05:18 Self-Validation as the Foundation of True Resiliency
06:47 Closing Message + How to Support the Podcast
07:05 Bonus Invite: Join the Courage & Confidence Circle (Starts March 3)

You can listen to each of the previous episodes at the links below:

Tasha Schuh

Michelle Walters

Kristen Crabtree

Support the show

Kim Benoy is a retired RN, Certified Aromatherapist, wife and mom who is passionate about inspiring and encouraging women over 40. She wants you to see your own beauty, value and worth through sharing stories of other women just like you.

If this podcast inspires you and makes you think, “She’s talking to me,” there’s a place where these conversations continue. The Midlife with Courage™ community is the podcast—plus deeper connection, encouragement, and support for midlife women navigating confidence, change, and what’s next. It’s a safe, uplifting space to be inspired, share honestly, and grow alongside women who truly get this season of life.

Midlife with Courage™ Community

Are you looking for more? You should check out my Courage & Confidence Circle! Join a supportive group of other midlife women who are ready to live with courage and stop waiting for someday! This 3-month program starts again in March 2026 and I would love to see you there!

REGISTER HERE

Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Flourishing After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:

Podmatch Link


...

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In this episode of Midlife With Courage®, host Kim welcomes Kristen Crabtree, who shares her remarkable journey of overcoming an abusive marriage and finding her true self. Kristen reveals how she moved forward before courage and the transformative power of listening to her true self.

Key takeaways include facing fear, the significance of true self, and redefining courage.

00:00 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Self-Worth
00:24 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
01:13 Kristen's Journey: From Fear to Courage
03:26 The Abusive Marriage: A Deep Dive
04:53 Therapy and Realizations
08:58 The Decision to Divorce
17:36 The Final Break: Moving Out
19:14 Facing Panic and Seeking Clarity
20:16 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change
21:01 Struggles with Mental Health
22:02 The Role of Trauma Therapy
22:43 Rediscovering True Self
25:42 The Journey of Self-Excavation
29:02 Introducing the Book and Its Impact
35:08 Life After Transformation

If you would like to learn more about Kristen including her book called "Be The You That's More You Than You've Ever Been" click HERE.

Get in on the next Courage & Confidence Circle before it even opens. The waitlist for the March 2026 Courage & Confidence Circle is open so click the link below to let me know you are ready to grow your midlife confidence now!

PUT ME ON THE WAITLIST!

Support the show

Kim Benoy is a retired RN, Certified Aromatherapist, wife and mom who is passionate about inspiring and encouraging women over 40. She wants you to see your own beauty, value and worth through sharing stories of other women just like you.

If this podcast inspires you and makes you think, “She’s talking to me,” there’s a place where these conversations continue. The Midlife with Courage™ community is the podcast—plus deeper connection, encouragement, and support for midlife women navigating confidence, change, and what’s next. It’s a safe, uplifting space to be inspired, share honestly, and grow alongside women who truly get this season of life.

Midlife with Courage™ Community

Are you looking for more? You should check out my Courage & Confidence Circle! Join a supportive group of other midlife women who are ready to live with courage and stop waiting for someday! This 3-month program starts again in March 2026 and I would love to see you there!

REGISTER HERE

Want to be a guest on Midlife with Courage™-Flourishing After Forty with Kim Benoy? Send Kim Benoy a message on PodMatch, here:

Podmatch Link


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