say YES to yourself! | Midlife Reinvention: Real Stories, Bold Moves
Say YES to Yourself! is a top midlife podcast for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who are reinventing their lives and navigating major life transitions.
This podcast is for you if you're asking:
1. Why do I feel lost as a woman in midlife?
2. Who am I now that my kids are grown and I have an empty nest?
3. Is it too late to reinvent myself in my 40s or 50s?
4. How do I rebuild after a divorce or a major life change?
5. Why do I feel guilty for wanting more for myself in midlife?
6. How do I stop people-pleasing and start putting myself first?
7. How do women reinvent themselves after caregiving or burnout?
8. How do I rebuild confidence and trust myself again in midlife?
9. How do I navigate a midlife transition without losing myself?
10. How do I make a career pivot in midlife that actually feels aligned?
Each week, host Wendy Harrop interviews inspiring women who are reinventing their lives in midlife. From career changes and creative pursuits to empty nest transitions and personal breakthroughs, you'll hear real stories of midlife transformation, courage, and joy.
Topics include: midlife reinvention, starting over after 40, second chapter living, empty nest syndrome, midlife career change, women's empowerment, personal growth for women over 50, midlife transitions, rebuilding after divorce, and finding yourself again in midlife.
Say YES to Yourself! is for midlife women ready to shed outdated expectations, rewrite their stories, and put themselves first—without guilt or apology.
Your best chapter starts now.
say YES to yourself! | Midlife Reinvention: Real Stories, Bold Moves
How to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read | Maya Smart
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Fan Mail: Tell Wendy how you're saying yes to yourself!
New in 2026: Space to Dream Retreats Around the World
What if your next chapter could begin in a beautiful city, with a few quiet hours just for you?
Space to Dream is a half-day, in-person workshop experience designed to help you step out of the noise and into a moment of intentional pause—one that invites clarity, softness, and possibility. Hosted in inspiring destinations around the world, this experience is for women ready to say yes to what’s next.
📍City dates & registration now open.
Welcome to the Say YES to Yourself! Podcast—the show for midlife women, empty nesters, and anyone navigating life after divorce, burnout, or big transitions. If you're ready to shed cultural expectations, reconnect with your true self, and put your joy first—you’re in the right place.
In this episode, Wendy is joined by Maya Smart, author of Reading for Our Lives, to explore what it means to raise confident readers. Maya offers grounded, compassionate insight on how literacy begins earlier than we think and how connection, presence, and storytelling shape who our children's future with language.
They explore:
- Why talking to babies and toddlers—long before they speak—lays the foundation for literacy
- How everyday moments like naming, pointing, and narrating build essential brain connections
- The difference between recognizing letters and truly understanding language
If you’re navigating parenting, teaching, or simply loving a child through the early years, this conversation offers an encouraging look at literacy that remind us presence matters more than perfection.
Connect with Maya:
Instagram @mayasmarty
Get her book, Reading for Our Lives.
Referenced in this Episode:
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Connect with Wendy:
Linkedin
Instagram: @wendy.harrop
Facebook: Phineas Wright House
Website: Phineas Wright House
PWH Farm Stays
PWH Curated Experience and Travel
Interested in being a guest on the show?
Send your pitch to podcast@phineaswrighthouse.com
Podcast Production By Shannon Warner of Resonant Collective
Want to start your own podcast? Let's chat!
If this episode resonated, follow Say YES to Yourself! and leave a 5-star review. It helps more women in midlife discover the tools, stories, and community that make saying YES not only possible, but powerful.
