The Boomer Woman’s Podcast

When Life Takes a Plot Twist: Divorce, Reinvention & Saying YES to Yourself with Kim Peek

What happens when the life you built no longer feels like your life?

In this deeply honest conversation, Agnes talks with Kim Peek about divorce after 30 years of marriage, empty nest loneliness, toxic relationships, breast cancer survival, and the surprising power of small “yes” decisions that slowly rebuild a life.

This episode of The Boomer Woman’s Podcast explores health, reinvention, and personal growth for women navigating life after 60.

• Why “plot twists” can become turning points
• The emotional reality of an empty nest after decades of motherhood
• What Kim learned from a toxic post-divorce relationship
• The idea of “micro yeses” and reclaiming small moments for yourself
• The Six Ps of the YES Life
• Why movement, community, and curiosity matter more as we age

Sometimes the next chapter doesn’t begin with a grand reinvention — sometimes it begins with one small yes.

Learn more about Kim Peek and find all her links at The Boomer Woman's Podcast: Kim Peek

 

Worms, Laughter & Letting Go of Stress: Cathy Nesbitt on Joy, Composting and Living Differently

What do worms, sprouts, and laughter have in common?

More than you might think.

In this lively and surprisingly thoughtful conversation, Agnes talks with Cathy Nesbitt — founder of Cathy's Crawly Composters — about composting, food, resilience, stress, and why joy may be one of the most overlooked health practices of all. What begins as a conversation about worms becomes a much deeper discussion about slowing down, reconnecting to nature, and creating a life that actually feels nourishing.

In This Episode:

• Why Cathy believes worms are part of the future of food security and waste management
• How laughter yoga transformed her resilience and wellbeing
• The connection between stress, modern life, and disconnection from joy
• Why “being too sensitive” may actually be a gift
• The surprising health benefits of sprouts and live foods
• What midlife women can learn about saying yes to curiosity and small shifts

Sometimes the next chapter doesn’t begin with a dramatic reinvention — sometimes it begins with paying attention to what brings us back to life.

➡️ Full guest page and resources: boomwithabang.com

 

 

Menopause, Grief & Reinvention: Author Teri M. Brown on Becoming “Peg, Unhinged”

Author Teri M. Brown returns to The Boomer Woman’s Podcast for a conversation filled with laughter, honesty, grief, reinvention, and the wonderfully messy reality of midlife.

From menopause rage and dark humour to widowhood, writing through grief, and learning how to keep becoming after life changes everything, Teri shares the deeply human stories behind her newest novel, Peg, Unhinged.

In This Episode:

• Why menopause can feel “like being thirteen again… but worse”
• Writing humour while grieving the loss of the love of your life
• The emotional reality of rebuilding life after widowhood
• Why women should never allow age to define possibility
• Lessons learned from riding a tandem bicycle across America
• How historical fiction reveals that human nature rarely changes

Sometimes the next chapter begins not because we chose it — but because life insisted — and we discover we are still capable of becoming.

Find Teri M. Brown at https://www.terimbrown.com/

Lern more about Teri and find all her links at The Boomer Woman's Podcast: Teri M Brown

 

Things Feel Different… Now What? A Real Conversation About Life After 60 with Host, Agnes Knowles

Have you noticed that quiet sense that something has shifted? Not dramatically, not overnight—but enough that the old answers don’t quite fit anymore. In this solo episode, Agnes reflects on what many women are quietly navigating right now—and asks a simple, powerful question.

• Why life after 60 can feel “unsettled” even when nothing is obviously wrong
• The real questions women are asking (but not always saying out loud)
• Why inspirational stories don’t always translate to real life
• A grounded, no-hype perspective on AI and how to approach it
• The subtle shift in conversations that actually helps

Sometimes the most powerful step forward is simply naming what you’re trying to figure out.

There's more at the website: The Boomer Woman's Podcast

What’s Still Possible After 60? Mindset, Motion, and Taking the Next Step with Debbi DiMaggio

What happens when you stop asking “Can I?” and start asking “What if I did?”

In this conversation, Debbi DiMaggio shares the story behind running the LA Marathon just before turning 60—but more importantly, what that experience revealed about mindset, transitions, and what’s still possible at this stage of life.

In this episode:

• Why focusing on “the next step” changes everything
• What to do when you feel stuck, lost, or unsure what comes next
• The reality of mindset vs real-life limitations
• How to reconnect with yourself after years of caring for others
• Why perfection keeps us stuck—and how to let it go
• Where to find support when you feel like you’re doing it alone

Sometimes it’s not about doing something extraordinary—it’s about being willing to take the next step, wherever you are.

Find Debbi at http://debbidimaggio.org/

Learn more about Debbi and find all her links at The Boomer Woman's Podcast: Debbi DiMaggio

 

Financial Dependency Isn’t About Intelligence — Taking Back Control at Any Age with Estelle Gibson

Many women didn’t “choose” financial dependency—it was simply how things were done. But when life shifts, that quiet pattern can suddenly become overwhelming.

In this conversation, Estelle Gibson shares how even with a strong financial background, she found herself needing to rebuild—and how women can step back into financial confidence at any stage of life.

• Why financial dependency isn’t about intelligence—it’s about patterns
• The emotional side of money: shame, avoidance, and fear
• The simple financial basics every woman should know
• Why “it’s too late” is one of the most damaging beliefs
• How small actions can rebuild confidence quickly
• Why staying involved matters—even if you’re not the expert

Taking back financial control isn’t about becoming perfect—it’s about becoming aware, involved, and willing to take the next step.

Find Estelle at: https://www.journey-to-freedom.com/

Learn more about Estelle and find her links at The Boomer Woman’s Podcast: Estelle Gibson

Retirement Isn’t About Savings — It’s About Income | Estate Planning, Risk & Real-Life Mistakes with Mark Kollar

Most of us did what we were told — we saved, we planned, we were responsible.
So why does retirement still feel uncertain?

In this conversation, Mark Kollar shares real-life stories and hard-earned insights about what actually puts retirement at risk — and why estate planning may matter more than you think.

• The difference between building wealth… and turning it into income
• The “invisible risks” that can quietly derail retirement
• Why procrastination may be the most expensive mistake of all
• What really happens when estate planning is missing or incomplete
• How market timing — and “black swan events” — affect your long-term income
• Why clarity matters more than how much you’ve saved

This isn’t just about money — it’s about protecting your life, your choices, and the people you care about.

Find Mark at:

• Retirement Income Strategies
• Kollar Insurance Services
• Learn more about Mark and find all his links at The Boomer Woman's Podcast: Mark Kollar
•  

The Influence Grandmothers Don’t Realize They Have | Shaping the Next Generation with Antwaun Thompson

Grandmothers often underestimate the role they play in shaping the next generation—but what if their influence is more powerful than they think? In this conversation, Antwaun Thompson shares what decades of mentoring young people have taught him about resilience, accountability, and the quiet impact of the adults who show up consistently.

• Why today’s teens are struggling in ways previous generations didn’t
• The surprising role grandparents play in shaping character and confidence
• How to influence without overstepping boundaries
• The power of conversation—and why kids feel unheard
• Simple ways to build trust, resilience, and connection
• Why legacy is built in everyday moments, not grand gestures

Sometimes the smallest conversations become the stories our grandchildren carry for a lifetime.

Find Antwaun Thompson at https://www.jltfieldhouse.org/

Learn more about Antwaun and find all his links at The Boomer Woman's Podcast: Antwaun Thompson

 

Giving Back That Actually Matters: Smart, Heart-Led Philanthropy with Katherine Lacefield

At a stage of life where many women begin asking “How do I give back in a way that actually matters?”—this conversation offers both clarity and relief. Katherine Lacefield brings decades of experience in the nonprofit world to unpack what giving really looks like today—beyond guilt, perfection, or confusion.

• Why “doing good” doesn’t require perfection
• How to find a cause that genuinely fits you
• The truth about fundraising, salaries, and sustainability
• What most people misunderstand about “administration costs”
• Monthly giving, peer-to-peer campaigns, and real impact
• Why heart-led giving may matter more than purely data-driven decisions

Giving back isn’t about doing it perfectly—it’s about finding where you belong and choosing to begin.

Find Katherine Lacefield at https://www.justbecause.consulting/

Learn more about Katherine and find all her links (and a pic of Mr. Pickles) at The Boomer Woman's Podcast: Katherine Lacefield

 

When “I’m Fine” Isn’t the Whole Story with Madelaine Weiss

There are moments in life when everything looks fine on the outside… and yet something inside feels unsettled. In this conversation, Madelaine Weiss and Agnes explore what’s really happening during life’s transitions — from retirement to shifting identities — and why feeling “stuck” may actually be a sign of growth.

• Why feeling stuck may actually mean it’s time to grow
• The hidden stress in “positive” life transitions like retirement
• What “I’m fine” really means — and why we say it
• The role of emotions as data, not decisions
• How childhood coping strategies quietly shape adult lives
• The influence of grandparents — and the stories we pass down

A thoughtful, gently challenging conversation about growth, identity, and learning to trust what’s happening beneath the surface.

Find Madelaine at https://madelaineweiss.com/

Learn more about Madelaine and find all her links at The Boomer Woman's Podcast: Madelaine Weiss