What does it look like to wake up at fifty and finally ask, “What do I actually want?” For Debbie Weiss — bestselling author, speaker, and host of the Maybe I Can podcast — that question became the turning point that changed everything.

In this deeply honest and vulnerable conversation, Debbie shares the emotional arc of her transformation: from decades of Family caregiving that left her financially stressed, emotionally depleted, and disconnected from herself, to building an entirely new life through what she calls “sprinkles” — small, intentional shifts that slowly and powerfully rewrote her story. Her journey from identity loss to empowered living, including losing over 80 pounds, writing a bestselling memoir, and discovering that personal Growth doesn't require a giant leap. It just requires one tiny step, taken consistently.

In this episode, I sit down with Debbie Weiss, an author, speaker, and podcaster who spent thirty years navigating the intense caregiving burden of looking after her disabled father, a son with special needs, and a husband struggling with chronic illness. Debbie’s story is a powerful example of how midlife women can reclaim their lives, moving from a place of deep identity loss to one of purposeful, empowered living.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How to recognize when you've slipped into victim mentality — and the first small step toward reclaiming your personal agency
• How to manage the physical and emotional toll of being the family caregiver without losing your spirit or your sense of self
• Why self-care is not a selfish luxury but the necessary foundation for showing up as your best self for the people you Love
• How to approach a midlife career change or a new passion project by making “maybe I can” your new daily mantra
• The role resilience building plays in moving through the stages of Grief recovery after profound loss
• Why sandwich generation women need to release the pressure of perfection and embrace the “1% more” rule for sustainable, lasting change
• How to begin your own personal growth journey by committing to just one doable, body-led goal at a time

This episode is for every woman in the sandwich generation who has quietly wondered whether there is anything left for her on the other side of all that giving. There is. And Debbie is proof.

A note from Laurie:

The power to change your life has been within you all along — even when it feels completely buried. You are not alone in this journey. And it is never, ever too late to start choosing yourself.

If this episode speaks to something you've been carrying quietly, share it with a woman in your life who needs to hear it. And if Debbie's story moves you, leave a review — it helps more women find this conversation when they need it most.

.

Much love,

Laurie

Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” 

Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go

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Laurie James Laurie James, Author, Podcaster, and Somatic Relationship Coach

Hi, I'm Laurie James...a mother, divorcée, recovering caregiver turned author, somatic relationship coach, and podcaster. My podcast, Confessions of a Freebird, was inspired by my youngest of four children leaving the nest and is the sequel to my book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go.

My memoir is about my journey from loneliness to finding belonging during a time when I was raising four teenage daughters, my mother had a heart attack and needed care, all while my marriage began to crumble underneath me.

Now I love helping people divorce, heal, and date differently in midlife. I love blending my somatic training and coaching to help clients develop a better relationship with their bodies and nervous system. Doing so allows them to find the inner freedom to experience more happiness, joy and create the life they desire through nervous system regulation.

When I'm not coaching clients or podcasting, I can be found nurturing my free spirit by walking my adopted husky Lu, skiing, sailing, hiking, spending time with my four adult daughters, close friends or planning my next adventure.