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The Exhale And Explore Podcast

The Exhale And Explore Podcast

By: Anil Manley MS CHES & Lauren Fain RN HN-BC
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The Exhale and Explore Podcast is a wellness podcast for midlife women ready to live more fully, feel more deeply, and trust their next chapter.


Hosted by Anil Manley, MindBody Counselor and former stylist, and Lauren Fain, Holistic Nurse and former model, this podcast offers real-talk conversations rooted in rest, reflection, and radical care, for self and community.

As two Black women who turned 50 in 2025, Anil and Lauren are redefining what wellness and joy look like beyond the Strong Black Woman trope.


Each episode includes an Exhale Moment, a restorative grounding practice, and an Explore Moment, an invitation to try something new. A soft, bold space to come home to yourself.

© 2026 The Exhale And Explore Podcast Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Ep. 25 The Retreat That Exposed Hidden Beliefs About Happiness and Love

    Ep. 25 The Retreat That Exposed Hidden Beliefs About Happiness and Love
    18 Oct 2026

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    What if the thing keeping you stuck is the story you’ve been telling yourself about love, worth, and what’s next?

    A breakup, a birthday, and a city full of hidden gems all become part of Lauren’s journey toward clarity.

    Anil Manley and Lauren Fain unpack the shift Lauren felt after the Mindfulness with Anil weekend retreat in Washington, DC.

    Lauren shares the post-retreat breakthrough that helped her let go of limiting beliefs, recognize emotional patterns, and stop settling for less than peace.

    What started as a getaway became a chance to see how much of her happiness was tied to a relationship, and how a change of environment can reveal what everyday life hides.

    In this conversation, they explore:

    • why stepping away from your routine can expose beliefs you’ve been carrying unconsciously
    • how to recognize when your peace depends on someone else’s behavior
    • what it means to distinguish being settled from settling.

    Anil also shares how a retreat in Saratoga Springs helped her recognize burnout, listen to her body, and stop criticizing herself for needing rest.

    Together, they discuss taking back your own power and why conscious living takes practice, not perfection.

    If you’ve been running on autopilot, tying your happiness to an outcome, or wondering whether you’re holding on simply because something is familiar, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on relationships, self-worth, and moving forward.

    Sometimes you don’t need to force the next chapter—you need space to see it.

    Support the show

    🎧 Like, Follow, & Leave A Review:
    Thanks for listening to the Exhale and Explore Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, follow, and leave a review—it helps others find our show and grow this community of mindful midlife explorers.

    💸 Support the Show Here:

    Your support, whether big or small, helps us continue to explore, reflect, and celebrate what it means to live well. We thank you!

    📲 Connect with us:

    • Instagram: theexhaleandexplorepodcast
    • The Exhale and Explore Podcast
    • Got a question or topic you want us to explore? Slide into our DMs.
    • Tag us or use #ExhaleAndExplorePodcast to let us know—we’d love to hear from you!

    💬 Reply 'Exhale' for a special shout-out on the show!

    📌 Disclaimer:
    This episode is for education and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace personalized medical advice. Always consult with your trusted healthcare provider regarding your well-being.
    Show more Show less
    25 min
  • Ep. 24 Living Off The Wall: Turning 50 and Redefining Work, Worth, and Joy

    Ep. 24 Living Off The Wall: Turning 50 and Redefining Work, Worth, and Joy
    30 Aug 2026
    Send us Fan MailAnil Manley and Lauren Fain reflect on what they expected life to feel like at 50 versus what it actually feels like: still evolving, still messy, and still asking for more. They talk honestly about money, burnout, self-worth, leadership, grief, and the ongoing work of choosing joy instead of just staying in survival mode. This episode matters because it captures a real midlife reset: not a crisis, but a reckoning with what it means to be valued, to slow down, and to stop coasting.Lauren“My presence is your present.”Anil“We can experience grief and happiness at the same time.”Key TopicsIn this episode, Anil Manley, a Mind Body Counselor and Health Coach, and Lauren Fain, a registered nurse and certified holistic nurse, compare expectations about turning 50 with the reality of still being a work in progress.Lauren shares how a disappointing work review and raise conversation became the catalyst for stepping into more responsibility, asking for more, and recognizing her own worth.Anil talks about learning to have conversations about money, pursue raises, and build a coaching business instead of staying comfortable in a steady but limiting routine.They discuss how “just showing up” at work can turn into a survival pattern, especially when bills, taxes, and life pressures keep rising.Both hosts reflect on the shift from coasting to actively participating, whether that means taking on committees, speaking up at work, or leading more visibly.Anil shares that stepping into leadership, doing webinars, being on camera, and networking feels uncomfortable, but necessary for growth.Lauren opens up about intentionally taking a non-working week, resisting the urge to pick up extra hours, and making space for reflection, peace, and self-care.They talk about movement as restoration, including walking, run-walking, hiking, and making time for rest and play.The conversation turns toward inner work, including unprocessed feelings, perfectionism, and the temptation to stay busy to avoid hard emotions.The episode closes by honoring grief and joy simultaneously, with a tribute to Erica and a reminder to live “off the wall” instead of staying in the background.Timestamps00:00 - Welcome to Exhale and Explore 01:08 - The reality of turning 50 is not what they expected 02:17 - Lauren’s raise review becomes a wake-up call 03:33 - Getting involved creates growth and new perspective 04:16 - Talking openly about money and asking for more 05:32 - Building a coaching business with purpose 06:37 - Bills, pressure, and the move out of survival mode 08:03 - Reflection, exercise, and a three-hour mountain hike 09:22 - Rest, play, and making room for joy 10:03 - Protecting time off and choosing not to overwork 11:20 - Water, walking, and journaling as self-care 12:47 - Giving yourself permission not to stay busy 13:16 - The discomfort of inner work 14:35 - None of us have fully arrived 15:04 - Stepping into leadership instead of staying in the background 16:24 - Showing up authentically at work and in the podcast 18:06 - Where to step out of your comfort zone 19:06 - Working toward more joy, not just getting through the day 20:08 - Balancing grief, work, fun, and perfectionism 21:19 - The “Off the Wall” idea and honoring Erica 22:31 - Grief and happiness can exist togetherSupport the show🎧 Like, Follow, & Leave A Review: Thanks for listening to the Exhale and Explore Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, follow, and leave a review—it helps others find our show and grow this community of mindful midlife explorers.💸 Support the Show Here:Your support, whether big or small, helps us continue to explore, reflect, and celebrate what it means to live well. We thank you!📲 Connect with us:Instagram: theexhaleandexplorepodcastThe Exhale and Explore PodcastGot a question or topic you want us to explore? Slide into our DMs.Tag us or use #ExhaleAndExplorePodcast to let us know—we’d love to hear from you!💬 Reply 'Exhale' for a special shout-out on the show!📌 Disclaimer: This episode is for education and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace personalized medical advice. Always consult with your trusted healthcare provider regarding your well-being.
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    23 min
  • Ep. 23 Season 3 Preview: Grief, Joy, and Simplifying the Next Chapter

    Ep. 23 Season 3 Preview: Grief, Joy, and Simplifying the Next Chapter
    9 Aug 2026

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    "I think I'm grieving part of that, that that's not who I am anymore."-- Lauren

    "How can we be 5% happier? 10% happier?"--Anil

    Anil Manley and Lauren Fain reopen the conversation after a spring and summer hiatus to talk honestly about what changed after the big 50th birthday milestone. This short update sets up season 3, where they plan to explore how grief can show up in midlife, what drains energy, and how to find small, realistic ways back to joy.

    Anil Manley, a Mind Body Counselor, and Lauren Fain, a Registered Nurse and Certified Holistic Nurse, share how the transition from 50 to 51 has felt less celebratory and more emotionally complicated.

    Key Topics & Timestamps

    00:00 - Welcome back to Exhale and Explore

    00:24 - Checking in after a spring and summer hiatus

    00:56 - The emotional shift after turning 51

    01:48 - Naming the feeling as grief

    02:17 - Grieving an older version of yourself

    02:34 - Not being the same social version of yourself anymore

    03:27 - Finding joy in this stage of life

    03:46 - Holding both grief and possibility at the same time

    04:15 - Tools, non-negotiables, and habits for the new season

    04:44 - Reframing chores and daily responsibilities

    05:17 - Energy drains, guilt, and relationships that no longer fit

    05:47 - Accepting what you no longer want to do

    06:17 - How to simplify life and let in more light

    06:46 - Season 3 focus: turning grief into joy in simple ways

    Support the show

    🎧 Like, Follow, & Leave A Review:
    Thanks for listening to the Exhale and Explore Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, follow, and leave a review—it helps others find our show and grow this community of mindful midlife explorers.

    💸 Support the Show Here:

    Your support, whether big or small, helps us continue to explore, reflect, and celebrate what it means to live well. We thank you!

    📲 Connect with us:

    • Instagram: theexhaleandexplorepodcast
    • The Exhale and Explore Podcast
    • Got a question or topic you want us to explore? Slide into our DMs.
    • Tag us or use #ExhaleAndExplorePodcast to let us know—we’d love to hear from you!

    💬 Reply 'Exhale' for a special shout-out on the show!

    📌 Disclaimer:
    This episode is for education and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace personalized medical advice. Always consult with your trusted healthcare provider regarding your well-being.
    Show more Show less
    7 min
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