In this bittersweet season finale, Sarah Baillie and I come together to share some big news: the early wrap-up of Season 4. It's been a tough decision, but one that opens up exciting opportunities on the horizon for both of us. We peel back the curtain on the "why" behind this choice, exploring the joyous spaces it's creating for personal pursuits.

For me (Wendy McCallum), it means dedicating more time to my passion for writing fiction and diving into my Business Building Bootcamp community for coaches and my podcast, The Coaching Edge. Meanwhile, Sarah is excited about immersing herself in patient care and family time, and generating innovative ideas for her coaching practice. We take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about where we began in Season 1 (the "fake podcast") and marveling at the incredible journey of personal and professional growth since our estrogen-fueled conversations about nurturing and women’s midlife.

Join us for a heartfelt review of what we've cherished a...

Hi there, my lovely listeners! I've got some big news to share with you on this short episode of Bite-Sized Balance.

But mostly, I want to dive deep into a mindset shift that has truly transformed my life (and that I recently applied to the big decision that prompted today’s announcement): the powerful perspective shift from "What if it goes wrong?" to the game-changing question, "What if it goes right?"

Fear and anxiety have a sneaky way of holding us back, keeping us stuck in situations and habits that don't serve us. They're like quicksand, trapping us in a cycle of hesitation and self-doubt. But what if, instead of succumbing to fear, we embraced anticipation, excitement, and hope? These emotions act as catalysts, propelling us into action and nudging us towards the outcomes we desire.

In this episode, we unpack the magic that happens when we shift our perspective, exploring how a simple change in mindset can transform our actions, decisions, and ultimately, our lives. So, gr...

In this brief yet powerful episode of Bite-Sized Balance, my regular guest and BFF Sarah Baillie and I explain the transformative idea behind "Holding it Lightly", a tool we both use regularly in our coaching practices. I open up about a challenging period in my life and how intentionally loosening my grip on the problem (with the help of a fantastic coach!) led to a remarkable shift in my feelings, behaviors, and overall well-being.

 We explore the tendency among women to hold on tightly to situations and desired outcomes, and how often this is driven by a need for control. But we can’t control other people, we can only choose how we respond and react to them. Have a listen and then experiment with holding life a little more lightly yourself – we can’t wait for you to discover the magic that unfolds when you let go of the need to tightly grasp every aspect of your journey!

To connect with Wendy about her coaching and programming, visit: https://www.wendymccallum.com/

To con...

In this fascinating episode, I’m joined by Adele Spraggon, a Behavioral Change Expert and author, to explore the complicated world of decision-making in your brain. Adele sheds light on why your brain is always making choices on your behalf (spoiler alert: it's not your fault!) and unveils the step-by-step path to reprogramming it with a fresh set of operating instructions. 

Together, we dig into neuroscience to uncover how understanding your brain can empower you to make positive changes in your life (in all areas, even your drinking!). If you've ever wondered why you do what you do, and how to regain control, this episode is your key to unlocking your brain's full potential.

In this conversation, Adele and I delve into practical strategies and insights that can help you take charge of your decision-making process. 

We talk about:

• Why you can’t (and shouldn’t) believe everything you think
• Why you also shouldn’t always believe what your BFF thinks 
• Why you need to stop askin...

In this short and insightful Bite-Sized Balance episode, my regular guest and BFF, Sarah Baillie and I explore the notion of "Filling the Space" that often arises as we begin to say "no" to things that no longer serve us, set boundaries, and experience a shift in caregiving duties as our children grow older. Sarah beautifully articulates the common discomfort we feel with unoccupied time, driven by societal expectations of busyness. 

This tendency to fill the void immediately can lead to hasty decisions that don’t actually serve us and the adoption of unhealthy coping mechanisms. Sarah's heartfelt story about "Hershey," the almost-adopted dog, highlights the profound lessons she learned about her own relationship with free time.

Tune in to uncover how embracing the space in midlife can pave the way for authentic self-discovery and transformation.

To connect with me about my coaching and programming, visit: https://www.wendymccallum.com/

To contact Sarah Baillie about coachin...

No matter what kind of healing or balance you're seeking in this season of life, you've probably realized that quick fixes and shortcuts rarely bring about lasting results. But taking that initial step towards educating yourself is the first stride toward creating real change.

 In this episode, I sit down with Ayurveda Health Coach, Carina Greweling, who helps women achieve lasting balance by restoring healthy sleep, gut health, and energy. She's a certified Ayurveda Hormone Coach, Chinese medicine practitioner, and naturopath.

In this crash course in Ayurvedic wisdom, Carina explains the three constitution types known as doshas, which are rooted in the five fundamental elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether. According to Ayurvedic medicine, the doshas play a significant role in shaping an individual's physical, emotional, and mental characteristics.  This was all new to me, but I found it fascinating. It’s a really interesting complementary approach (that’s been around fo...

Today we're diving deep into a transformative practice that can supercharge your daily joy and make you feel like you can tackle the big challenges in your life. Gratitude is not just a buzzword; it's a game-changer. It has empowered me to stay so much more present as a parent, wife, and daughter, especially in the last year of my dad’s life. 

In this episode, I’ll share why your gratitude practice may have been ineffective in the past and what steps you have to take to make it a meaningful habit so that you can enjoy the benefits on a daily basis. The gift of gratitude is that it grounds you in the present moment. When you're actively searching for things to be grateful for, you can't help but be fully present.

Links Mentioned: 

Episode 23; Gratitude: How To Get More Joy in Your Life (In Just 5 Minutes a Day!)

To connect with Wendy about her coaching and programming, visit: https://www.wendymccallum.com/

Vacation's over and the kids are back at school. It’s that time of year when we often feel the need to get “back on track” and reboot the structure and routines that help us thrive. But something that we rarely consider is that as life changes, so does our personal “recipe for success.” Be it in relationships, careers, added responsibilities, shifting hormones, or the ages of your kids, life has a way of changing and throwing curve balls when it comes to maintaining a healthy routine. 

So if you’re looking to establish some new habits around sleep, food, movement, mental health, unhealthy coping mechanisms  (or any other area of positive change), this episode is the perfect place to start. With the tips you gather here, you’ll be able to evaluate all the variables in your life at this moment so you can create habits and routines that are both achievable and supportive of your body’s needs. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why we have to consider our season of life as we build n...

 Watch the podcast, above, or listen below. 

This week, I am joined again by my friend and colleague Sarah Baillie, N.D. to talk about the practical steps women can take to avoid hitting an emotional rock bottom in midlife. Research suggests that most people are at their unhappiest in their forties, but that this continues to improve as they age.

Sarah and I believe there are ways to speed that process up!

As more of our clients come to us looking for support in pro-actively making their midlife easier and happier, we have identified five key areas women can address to help create space for themselves during the time in their life when their energy and happiness are statistically at their lowest. 

Whether you’re preparing to head into the bottom of the u-curve of happiness, or if you’re already there, these suggestions can help you and the people around you create more peace and joy in your life.

Topics include how to cut back on your to-do list, how to care less, how to sa...

Watch the podcast, above, or listen below.

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Today’s conversation around the value of meaningful female friendships in midlife is especially poignant for me and my co-host Sarah as colleagues who have also become very good friends over the course of the last few years.

We discuss how picture-perfect social media feeds can often lead to comparison and feelings of inadequacy, and how that can keep women from reaching out when they need more connection. 

But with midlife there’s a sense of coming home to oneself, and with that, a level of honesty that can make women finally feel they can admit when things are imperfect. Being able to build these deeper, more vulnerable friendships nurtures our energy.

Midlife is also a time when many women feel they now also have time for themselves, and these high-value friendships that could have been put on the back burner while they were prioritizing their family’s growth. 

If you have a story about your friendships or have any ideas ...