Midlife Reinvention in Nice: U.S Attorney to Expat Pastry Chef with Dawn Belisle | Women Over 50, France, Baking, Relocation
Get ready for an incredible dose of inspiration! This week on The Fxck You 50s Podcast, we're joined by Dawn Belisle, who traded her high-pressure life as a successful attorney in the U.S. for the serene and creative world of a pastry chef and relocation expert in Nice, France.
Dawn shares the exhilarating highs and challenging lows of her midlife reinvention and relocation, proving it's never too late to chase a deeply fulfilling life. She dives deep into the necessity of cultural adaptation, the mental hurdles of becoming an expat, and the transformative power of pursuing her passion for baking.
Listen as Dawn emphasizes the joy of independence and self-discovery for women over 50, the importance of building a supportive community abroad, and how her move has dramatically improved her quality of life. You'll hear her candid thoughts on feeling like a misfit, finding happiness without compromise, and why she now feels more herself than ever before.
If you're dreaming of a change, Dawn's story is your passport to adventure!!
Connect with The F*CK You 50s
Podcast Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Connect with Dawn
TikToK
Instagram
YouTube
Delights by Dawn official website
Chapters
00:00 Navigating Time Zones and Expat Life
06:52 From Law to Baking: A Career Transition
09:39 The Stress of Law and the Call for Change
12:45 Finding Peace in France: A Culinary Journey
15:27 The Move to France: A New Chapter
18:11 Settling in France: Host Programs and Community
21:08 Evolving Business Plans: From Pastry to Lifestyle Coaching
26:19 The Joy of Baking and Creativity
29:10 Culinary Fusion and Experimentation
32:08 Aging and Memory Challenges
34:13 Relocating to France: A Smooth Transition
39:28 The Mental Aspects of Living Abroad
41:17 Expat vs. Immigrant: Understanding the Terms
46:26 Language Learning Journey
49:05 Navigating Business in France
52:21 Building Community and Support
54:55 Cultural Adaptation and Identity
59:32 Quality of Life and Personal Growth
01:05:35 Empowerment and Independence
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Stop Faking It: Crushing PR, Fighting Medical Gaslighting, and Finding Your Unfiltered Midlife Power with Caren West / Caren West PR
Join host Andrea Claire and Caren West for an incredibly honest conversation about navigating life in our 50s. Caren shares her journey from career uncertainty to becoming a PR success, stressing the power of organic networking and authentic self-expression. They dive deep into the challenges of medical gaslighting, the reality of caregiver fatigue, and the need for honest conversations about women's health and aging. This episode is a powerful reminder that embracing your chaos and prioritizing wellness is the key to resilience and finding your midlife purpose.
Key Takeaways & Chapter Markers:
Career Evolution & PR Success: Caren shares her non-linear journey, emphasizing the shift from career uncertainty to becoming a successful figure in PR by leaning into authentic relationships and taking risks.
The Importance of Organic Networking: A deep dive into why organic conversations are far more valuable than scripted ones, and how simple acts, like having coffee, form the foundation of effective networking.
Authenticity vs. Influencer Culture: Discussing the decline of communication skills in the digital age and critiquing the lack of authenticity and illusion of perfection often seen in influencer culture and social media.
The Power of the 50s Demographic: Highlighting the significant influence, spending power, and vital need to listen to women our age in today's society.
Healthcare Advocacy and Gaslighting: Caren opens up about her personal health challenges and the crucial need for women to validate their concerns and combat the widespread issue of medical gaslighting in the healthcare system.
Midlife Identity, Purpose, and Chaos: Reflecting on the profound questions of identity and purpose that surface in midlife, and the empowerment that comes from embracing life's chaos and non-linear paths.
Wellness, Stress, and Caregiver Fatigue: The essential discussion around prioritizing health and wellness, recognizing the link between lifestyle, stress, and health issues, and addressing the reality of caregiver fatigue.
Fashion as Self-Expression: Exploring how fashion can serve as a meaningful form of self-expression and a part of the journey toward self-acceptance.
Empathy and Boundaries: The freedom gained in midlife to stop tolerating difficult people and the vital role of empathy and kindness in both professional and personal settings.
Ready to trade the perfection myth for genuine power? Tap 'Play' now, and then share this with the woman in your life who needs to hear: Your story is valid, and your chaos is valuable.
Connect with The F*CK You 50s
Podcast Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Connect with Caren West here:
Caren West PR on Instagram
Caren West on IG
Caren West on X
Caren West PR on X
Caren West PR on FB
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Authentic Personal Branding in the AI Era: Women, Boundaries & Career Growth with Danielle Hughes from More Than Words Marketing
Tired of your professional life feeling like a beige elevator ride?
Tune in to this electrifying episode of The FxCK You 50s featuring Danielle Hughes, the Chief Personality Officer from More Than Words Marketing!
Danielle dives deep into why your professional message needs a serious personality transplant. This isn't just about polishing your resume—it's about authentic personal branding and using personal storytelling to create genuine, powerful connections.
🔥 What You'll Learn:
The Power of Personality: Discover why being authentically you is the single best professional move you can make. Hint: Your bio shouldn't be boring (or as Danielle puts it, it should feel like a "new pair of socks!")
Navigating Modern Challenges: Get Danielle's take on how COVID and AI are reshaping the professional landscape and what you need to do to stay relevant and human.
Bossing Up in Business: A special focus on the unique challenges women face in the business world, especially during career transitions, and why collaboration and seeking help are your secret weapons.
Boundaries Over Balance: Learn why the quest for "work-life balance" is a myth, and how setting firm boundaries is the key to sustainable success and sanity.
Networking, Unfiltered: Practical tips on how to network effectively, including the secrets behind Danielle's "Three I's of Networking."
Whether you're looking to redefine your career, embrace your age and identity, or just need a jolt of inspiration, this conversation is packed with takeaways to help you showcase what you're good at and move forward with confidence.
Ready to find your professional voice?
Press play and connect with the expert on personality-driven messaging!
Connect with The F*CK You 50s:
Podcast Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Connect with Danielle Hughes here:
Danielle Hughes on LinkedIn
Danielle Hughes on IG
Danielle Hughes More Than Words website
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Corporate Burnout to Founder: Launching a Premium Brand & Your Second Act at 50 with Tina Yau
Ready for a major career pivot? This episode features Tina Yau, a former retail e-commerce executive who traded her corporate titles at giants like Uniqlo, Estée Lauder, and Saks Fifth Avenue to launch her own premium women's travel bag brand, TYVY NYC, set to debut in Fall 2025.
Tina's journey is a powerful testament that it's never too late to reinvent yourself—she started over at age 50. She dives deep into the challenges and exhilaration of leaving corporate life to build a brand from scratch, focused on creating functional and stylish travel bags that keep up with women juggling work, family, and life on the go.
You'll hear her perspective on:
The empowerment of women in business and why age is just a number when pursuing a dream.
The crucial role of community support and mentorship in navigating the world of entrepreneurship.
The significance of building a supportive, values-aligned team.
If you're contemplating a second act or a career reinvention, Tina's candid story about creating a brand that solves a real-world problem—without sacrificing style—will be the inspiration you need.
Connect with The F*CK You 50s
Podcast Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Connect with our guest
TYVY NYC on IG
TYVY NYC official website
check out the Dyson AirWrap (not an ad)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Technical Setup
03:03 Tina's Journey in E-commerce
05:50 Launching a New Brand: The Aviator Collection
08:57 Challenges and Insights in Brand Development
12:03 Navigating Roadblocks and Building a Team
14:50 Support Systems and Community Engagement
23:58 The Challenge of Support from Family and Friends
26:53 Embracing Delusional Confidence
29:24 Learning from Corporate Experience
32:21 Navigating Parenthood and Entrepreneurship
34:38 Breaking Societal Norms for Women in Business
36:50 Understanding Corporate Burnout
40:06 Introducing Tivi: A New Brand
42:58 Encouragement for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
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Navigating Menopause and Midlife Authentically with Bridgett Garratt, co-host of Hot Flashes & Cool Topics | Women's Health & Hormones
Six years ago, Bridgett Garratt and her co-host launched the podcast Hot Flashes & Cool Topics because they were tired of the silence and confusion surrounding midlife and menopause.
Now, Bridgett joins Andrea Claire to deliver a no-holds-barred conversation that demands we get real about women's health.
In this captivating episode, we dive deep into the journey of authenticity as we navigate this powerful stage of life. Bridgett shares the recurring, often infuriating themes from her show, revealing where the system is failing women. We don't just talk about age bias—we call out the 'Karen' phenomenon and dissect how the success of treatments like adding testosterone to HRT still seems to be stuck in a male-centric paradigm.
Connect with The F*CK You 50s:
Podcast Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube
Connect with our guests:
Hot Flashes Cool Topics website
Hot Flashes Cool Topics on Instagram
HFCT on YouTube
Links & Resources
Hemorroid tablets - not medical advice at all but what worked for me!
Menopause Society
REST Cooling blanket
BlanQuil weighted blanket
Bevelations by Bevy Smith
*Note: some links might make us a wee pittance
Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Undeniably Needed.
Let's face it — Aging is trending. And commercialism is cashing in.
Brands are turning our reality into their next big revenue stream, pushing products, promises, and influencers disguised as saviours. They're selling "solutions" to "problems" they invented while we're out here juggling hot flashes, career pivots, and figuring out who the hell decided our laugh lines were something to fix.
Sound familiar? Exhausting, right?
Welcome to The FxCK YOU 50s, the podcast for women who are DONE tolerating the BS. Hosted by Andrea Claire, this is your fabulously filter-free dose of real talk, real stories, and a much-needed reality check.
We're not a trend — And we're just getting started.
Welcome to The FxCK YOU 50s!
About your host Andrea Claire.
Andrea is a woman who has finally said enough with this BS. At 53, Andrea has spent the last 30+ years in the fashion, beauty and entertainment world. She has seen and done it all (and hopes to continue unless the patriarchy ages her out).
She was a familiar face on Canadian TV from 2002-2007, then she skedaddled to Singapore, returning home to Toronto permanently in 2022.
Andrea shares her experience, stories and opinions as she encourages us all to put our foot down — but not in a Rosé way. 😉