Choosing Yourself in Midlife | My Interview on The Change Effect Podcast with Noelle Van

Happy 2026!  Thank you for listening to the podcast. I appreciate you!  In this episode, I offer you a different take on "New Year, New You" energy.  I hope that you take time to reflect on how far you've come in life and go "all in" on what you want and don't want in 2026.  I'll be back to the podcast, but right now I'm doing a lot of reflecting and soul-searching. To stay in touch, you can join The Moment, my twice-a-month newsletter. For personalized support through private sessions, feel free to email me. To walk alongside me and other women living alcohol-free, you can join Team Alcohol-Free.  

Hello! I'm so happy to be here with you.  I'm popping in to check in with you this holiday season. As 2025 comes to a close, I want to offer words of encouragement to help you navigate the holiday alcohol-free.  Whether this is your first year, your second, or many years in. I talk about growth, discomfort, awkward moments, grief, and why outgrowing alcohol is a sign that you're evolving, which is a good thing! I also share where I am right now, slowing down, focusing on one thing at a time, and letting intuition and flow guide me.  And a personal story from my first sober Christmas and what changed in the years that followed, along with a reminder that you're not alone in this season. There are so many women walking through this right alongside you, including me. I'm with you. Thank you for being here with me.  ✌🏻 Mentioned in this episode:  Join the Team Alcohol Free waitlist Join my email community for the upcoming 2025 reflection Send me an email to say hello 

Episode 343 Hello, friend! Happy holidays and happy season of midlife and beyond! This episode was inspired by a walk I took this morning and the possibilities that open up when you walk with the topic of wonder. I invite you to walk with wonder during the holiday season and the season of midlife, using curiosity instead of pressure to explore what's possible for you. Wonder expands your perspective and opens doors you may not have touched or considered in a long time (or ever!)  I share simple prompts you can take with you anywhere, but I suggest taking a walk with this one!  I'm with you.  I appreciate you so much for listening.  XO   Mentioned in This Episode • Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown • My 2025 Holiday Gift Guide for Midlife Women Living Alcohol-Free: https://www.lorimassicot.com/2025giftguide   Stay in touch and work with me in December:  • TAF enrollment for 2025 closes on 12/1: https://www.lorimassicot.com/teamalcoholfree • Schedule a 60-minute Clarity Session: https://www.lorimassicot.com/ • Join my email newsletter, The Moment: https://www.lorimassicot.com/email-sign-up

https://www.lorimassicot.com/coaching-servicesHey there!  I'm sharing my interview with my friend Noelle Van on her podcast, The Change Effect, because it's all of our favorite topics that we discuss on To 50 and Beyond!  In this episode, we talk about:  The myth of "rock bottom" and why real change begins with your decision, not a catastrophic event. How negotiating and bargaining with alcohol keeps us stuck Navigating the unique challenges of quitting alcohol in midlife The ways alcohol-free living can bring clarity, emotional freedom, and renewed energy during the perimenopause and menopause transition. The importance of accountability, support, and community when breaking free from drinking Rediscovering your true self, embracing self-care, and finding peace with "being enough" at every age. The ongoing journey of recovery, self-compassion, and redefining success beyond productivity and external achievements. Why change is the catalyst for creating the life you deeply desire. If you're contemplating your relationship with alcohol, struggling with change in midlife, or simply ready to put yourself at the center of your own story, this honest and inspiring episode is for you.  You can find Noelle here.  Thank you for listening!    Mentioned in this episode:  Team Alcohol-Free enrollment  Join my 2x a month newsletter, The Moment  Private Coaching is available for six-week or 60-minute sessions Send me an email to say hello!   

Episode #341 Hello there! I'm glad you're here.  Today, I want to have a conversation about the word "still" — how it can either make us feel stuck, like we're not doing enough, or trapped in frustration and confusion. But it can also be a word we use to empower ourselves. This year especially, I've had heartfelt conversations with women who feel like they're in a transition, still figuring things out. Whether it's about their relationship with alcohol or their life in general. There's a lot of outgrowing happening, a lot of evolving, and I want to talk about what it really means to be "still" in the middle of all that. If you're feeling stuck, unsure, or frustrated, know you are not alone. Build yourself up today and reframe how you're using still.  You'll hear: How "still" can feel limiting or powerful depending on how you use it. My honest experience with quitting alcohol and the unexpected challenges. Common struggles women face midlife when changing their relationship with alcohol. I'm with you 100%.  Take care of yourself this week. Peace. ✌🏻Before you go...   Could You Do Me a Favor? A Quick Apple Podcast Review Hearing from you is SO helpful as I sit down behind the mic each week.   If this or any other episode helped you, please consider taking a few minutes to help me reach more women in midlife who need to know that living alcohol-free is possible.   Here's how to leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts:  p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Open the Apple Podcasts app on your phone. p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Search for "To 50 and Beyond" and open the show page. p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Scroll down to the Ratings & Reviews section. p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Tap "Write a Review," choose your star rating, and share whatever feels right. p]:pt-0 [&>p]:mb-2 [&>p]:my-0"> Tap "Send" to submit your review. I read all of my reviews and will send you a virtual hug after reading yours.  Thank you for your support!    Mentioned in this episode:  Join my newsletter, The Moment Join Team Alcohol-Free  Email me 

Episode #340  Have you ever found yourself saying you want to try something new or stop doing something? If you said, Yes! This episode is for you!  "Broken-record-idis" is a thing, and I share my recent experience declaring an "opposite day"—a simple practice of intentionally doing something opposite of your usual routine, especially in midlife. Whether it's skipping the grocery store to avoid wine, taking a different walk route, or wearing something unexpected, small shifts can spark joy and motivation. Planning a day to do the "opposite" is about breaking monotony, releasing natural dopamine, and inviting a fresh perspective without pressure or big commitments.  If you try it and want to share with me, I would love to hear from you!  If you are interested in private coaching or have questions about Team Alcohol-Free, you can send me an email here.  Thank you for listening! See you soon:)    Mentioned in this episode:  Frieda McFadden books - I talk about The Perfect Son  The movie I saw over the weekend.  I forgot to mention that I enjoyed both the book and the movie!    NEW Inside Team Alcohol-Free  Team Alcohol Free's new three-month subscription option gives you the opportunity to try out our community during the holidays and into 2026.  We are a community of midlife and beyond women working together to create and live an alcohol-free style that feels good to us.  You can find enrollment details here.       

Episode #339 This episode is inspired by a few of my listeners who reached out to me via my email. I've heard from so many women over the past seven-plus years who have said, I'm on day one, and I've heard from a couple of listeners recently who have shared their experiences and their challenges with staying alcohol free on vacation and in restaurants. In this episode, you will hear more about my first vacation sober, my experiences in a restaurant in the early days, and honest reminders to help you stay alcohol-free on vacation and in restaurants. You will also hear a straightforward reminder and message to help you redefine "another day one" if you have gone back to drinking and are starting fresh. I'm with you!  Thank you for listening.  Find things here... To read this episode's full show notes, click here.  Write to me here.  Download The Daily Sobriety Toolkit here.  Join my email newsletter, The Moment, here.   

Episode #338 Hello there! I'm happy you're here.  Today's episode is a conversation among midlife friends. Our guest today is Noelle Van. Noelle has been on the podcast twice before, starting with episode 24 (see below).  She is someone I appreciate having conversations with because she is authentically herself.  During this episode, Noelle and I talk about where Noelle is with getting older - the joys and challenges. Noelle talks about how being in recovery has helped in other areas of her life and where she is now in long-term recovery.  Noelle talks about her life in Corporate and how to identify burnout, and take the first steps towards transitioning out of the Corporate world, and more good stuff about change in midlife.  Thank you for listening. I appreciate you.  To read this episode's full show notes, head on over here.    Check out Noelle's past episodes:  Episode #24: High Functioning Alcoholism and Hiding Your Drinking  Episode 230: How to Start a Journal Practice Contact Noelle here.  Noelle's website  Noelle's podcast: The Change Effect The Sober Leap book   Contact Lori here Lori's website  Free resource: The Daily Sobriety Toolkit Join the newsletter here    Team Alcohol-Free enrollment (closes October 31st)    

Episode 337 Picture us sitting down with our favorite beverage and notebooks, and I ask you: What do you want to focus on and not focus on before the clock strikes midnight on 1/1/2026? It's a question I asked myself before I recorded this episode, and this is what we're talking about today! I share a letter I wrote to myself on 12/31/24 with my goals and dreams for 2025. I talk about what is working in my life that I want to continue to focus on in 2025, a few things I want to start, and something I want to let go of and not focus on.  Throughout the episode, I check in with you to help you get clear on the progress you've made, the things you are doing that are working in your life, and what you want to spend your time focusing on and not focus on for the remainder of the year.  I have a correction:  I mentioned SMART goals and incorrectly used the acronym. The correct meaning is: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Thank you for allowing me to be human and make mistakes 😊. I would LOVE to hear from you! Send me an email to share what you're focusing on and not focusing on for the rest of 2025.  Thank you for listening!    You can read the transcript of this episode here.    Mentioned in this episode:  Join The Moment (bi-weekly newsletter)    Lift With Cee YouTube Channel Cheryl Coulombe's challenges I've done this year (and am doing) Weight Watchers App THE Notebook I use and love    Work With Me  Download the free Daily Sobriety Toolkit here.  Private Coaching + Community Community only: Team Alcohol-Free   

Episode 336  Hello! I'm glad you're here.  In this episode, I talk with Stephanie Valentine, a holistic nutritionist and mental health coach, about loving what's really on your plate—both with food and in life. Stephanie shares her journey and her cookbook Love What's On Your Plate, focusing on mindful eating, nourishing rituals, and true self-care. We explore how wellness isn't about being perfect, but about finding joy and balance as life changes, especially in midlife. Stephanie encourages easing up on the strict rules around food, exercise, and rest, and embracing kindness to ourselves. She also shares tips for mindful eating to help your body truly absorb nourishment. We discuss her personal experience with alcohol and her free mocktail guide for creative, enjoyable alternatives. This episode offers practical, heartfelt advice for nurturing yourself, embracing balance, and living joyfully—no perfection needed. This is a truly refreshing episode!  Thank you for listening!    Find Stephanie here:  Her website:  SK Living  Instagram  Purchase her cookbook: Love What's On Your Plate Download her free Mocktail Guide   Find Lori here:  Website Download my free Daily Sobreity Toolkit here    Join Team Alcohol-Free: the best online alcohol-free community only for midlife women (that's what makes it the best) Gain access to weekly meetings, daily inspiration, and lots of connections with midlife women who are living alcohol-free.  Plus, you will receive long-term support for a one-time investment, + additional resources added monthly. Team Alcohol-Free was established in 2023, and we are growing stronger together! If you feel like you've been missing out on alcohol-free girlfriends and coaching, join us today!  Go here to enroll