Confessions of a Freebird - Midlife, Divorce, Heal, and Date Differently with Somatic Experiencing, Empty Nest, Well-Being, Happiness
Hi, I’m Laurie James—author of Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, somatic relationship coach, mother of four adult daughters, divorcée, and recovering caregiver.
I created Confessions of a Freebird as a heartfelt space for women navigating midlife transitions—divorce, empty nesting, loss, dating again, or simply wondering:
“Is this all there is?”
If you're longing for more authenticity, joy, freedom, and purpose, especially after years of putting everyone else first, you're in the right place.
Each episode, I’ll share:
- Practical tools and somatic coaching strategies
- Raw reflections and confessions from my own journey
- Expert conversations on everything from sex, grief, trauma healing, and finances to dating, caregiving, and reinvention
We'll explore what it means to come home to yourself through somatic practices—and how to design a life that feels aligned with who you are now, not who you were 20 years ago or who someone or society has told you to be.
Whether you’re in the sandwich generation, starting over after loss, or dreaming of your next chapter—Confessions of a Freebird is your midlife best friend. Think of it as a permission slip to evolve, heal, and fall in love with your life all over again.
Because the most important relationship you’ll ever have… is the one you have with yourself.
XO,
Laurie
Connect with me:
Purchase my book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, https://www.laurieejames.com/book
IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurie.james/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.james.79219754
Episodes
104 episodes
How to Reclaim Financial Empowerment When Every Financial Decision Feels Risky with Shannon Ryan
Have you ever stopped to think about the relationship you have with money, not just your budget or bank balance, but the emotions that shape your financial choices?Even though money looks logical on paper, the truth is most of our financ...
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Episode 201
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40:40
Feeling Burned Out? The Overlooked Signs of Betrayal You Need to Know with Lora Cheadle
Have you spent years doing everything “right”? Building your career, caring for others, keeping things together and still feel like something is off? Maybe it’s a quiet ache you can’t shake. That pull between might not b...
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Episode 200
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51:45
How Embracing Imperfection and Self-Discovery Can Release Creative Blocks with Kevin Murphy
You might’ve grown up believing you weren’t the “creative type.”Maybe someone told you your art wasn’t good enough, or life pulled you toward what felt practical. After years of raising kids, caregiving, working, or just keeping things a...
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Episode 199
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59:12
How to Feel Confident and Find a Healthy Relationship Dating in Midlife
Dating in midlife isn’t for the faint of heart. Maybe your marriage or a long-term relationship ended, you’ve healed, and now you’re ready to date again—only to ride a rollercoaster of hope, disappointment, or those “fetal position on your bed”...
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Episode 198
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48:58
Why Your Texting Style Might Be a Problem in your Family Communication with Tammy Cohen
Have you ever sent a text to your teen or college-aged kid and immediately wondered if they rolled their eyes when they read it? Maybe you’re trying to stay connected as they move across the country—or even just across the house. If...
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Episode 197
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38:05
Overcome Common Dating Challenges and Learn how to achieve Emotional Connection with Bernardo Mendez
Ever feel like you’re drawn to the wrong people—repeatedly? That pull isn’t random. It’s often old patterns and unhealed wounds running the show, not true safety or connection.If dating has left you feeling confused, overwhelmed, or read...
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Episode 196
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44:46
7 Intentional Steps for Emotional Well-Being After a Breakup - Solo Episode
When a relationship ends, how do you really move through the grief—body, mind, and heart?In this solo episode, I share my own recent breakup story and how I used somatic practices to walk through the grief process. Because here’...
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Episode 195
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21:09
How to Break Free from Unhealthy Drinking Habits and Find Emotional Sobriety with Colleen Freeland Kachmann
Have you ever reached for a drink—not because you genuinely wanted it—but because you were trying to soothe stress, numb emotions, or simply make it through the day?This week’s episode features Colleen Freeland Kachmann, an intuitive dri...
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Episode 194
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45:05
How a Midlife Transformation can Create a Deeply Meaningful Life with Karen Salmansohn
Do you want to make sure you’re not just alive… but truly living? My guest this week suggests, starting by contemplating your own death.In this transformative episode, I’m joined by Karen Salmansohn, bestselling author and behavioral cha...
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Episode 193
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44:16
How to Heal from Betrayal and Emotional Trauma to Reclaim Self-Trust with Dr. Debi Silber
Have you ever felt as though the ground has suddenly dropped out from under you after someone you trusted deeply betrayed you?Betrayal can manifest physically and emotionally, preventing you from achieving what you truly desire.In...
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Episode 192
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44:35
Health Habits and Body Acceptance: A Midlife Wellness Guide for Women with Elizabeth Dall
Is your body changing in ways that feel unfamiliar or unexpected? Perhaps your midlife body has gained a few pounds without any changes to your eating habits. Or maybe you’ve always struggled with body image and are searching for wa...
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Episode 191
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36:34
Feel Safe Again in Love: How Somatic Healing Supports Secure Relationships with Kate Anthony
When we are healing, do we only focus on the emotional aspect, or do we look at healing our lives holistically? Addressing different aspects of our lives is essential for feeling our best and ultimately creating space for what many ...
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Episode 190
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51:19
Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe? The Science Behind HRT and Breast Cancer Risk with Dr. Maria Sophocles
Are you feeling uncertain about what’s happening to your body during perimenopause and menopause? Are you unsure of whom to trust regarding hormone therapy?In this episode, I talk with Dr. Maria Sophocles, a nationally recognized menopau...
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41:27
What Emotional Healing Really Looks Like After Grief and Loss with Melissa Saleh
Have you ever experienced a loss so deep it changed everything?What if healing isn’t about moving on, but about learning to live differently with your grief?In this episode, I talk with Melissa Saleh, a trauma advocate, storyteller, ...
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Episode 188
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54:14
How Healing with Yoga Creates Emotional Resilience During a Midlife Career Change with Karen Fabian
Is the story you’ve been telling yourself keeping you stuck?Maybe it’s not the circumstances that need to shift, but your perspective on them and how you feel inside. In this episode, I talk with Karen Fabian, a yoga teacher,...
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Episode 187
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45:20
How to Break Free from Emotional Patterns Using Dream Analysis and the Theory of Imprinting with Cynthia Marks
Many people say that your life begins at birth, but what if your emotional imprint starts to take shape long before that? What if your emotions, behavioral patterns, and adaptability are formed in the womb?This is the conversatio...
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Episode 186
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47:54
The Good Daughter Syndrome: How to Set Boundaries with a Narcissistic Mother
What does it mean to be ‘the good daughter’?Being ‘the good daughter’ is a role many people step into without even realizing it. If you find yourself constantly maintaining peace, prioritizing others’ feelings over your own, a...
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Episode 185
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52:47
Afraid to Start From Scratch? Learn How To Make an Impact Now with Marie Newman
Have you ever wondered, “Why isn’t anyone fixing this problem?” Maybe it’s something in your community, your workplace, your government, or in your own life. You see a problem, but there’s no solution. When that happens what do you do?
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Episode 184
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54:23
How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed Even When Life Feels Out of Control
If you've been feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed lately, you're not alone. I don’t know about you, but it feels like I've lived through three years' worth of challenges in just the first two months of this year. Even with ten years of e...
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Episode 183
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27:11
How to Thrive After Divorce: A Midlife Survival Guide with Karen McMahon
Navigating the complexities of divorce can take a toll on our well-being, but it also presents an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.In this episode, Karen McMahon and I delve into these themes. Karen is a high-conflict...
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Episode 182
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48:44
How to Reconnect with Your True Self and Embrace Joyful Living with Heather Ash
Floating down a river serves as a beautiful metaphor for life. There are times when you need to be 'wild' and playful, willing to paddle when necessary, and wise when the river is calm, taking the time to listen to the messages that come your w...
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Episode 181
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36:13
Healing from Trauma: How to Reclaim Yourself After Life’s Challenges with Julie Brumley
Can I be real with you for a second? Healing isn’t always pretty. It’s messy, confusing, and sometimes it feels like you’re completely lost. I’ve been there, sobbing on my guest bed, wondering if I would ever find myself ...
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Episode 180
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55:22
The Truth About Menopause: Expert Tips on How to Improve Your Health and Thrive with Ali Brady
Welcome to the first episode of 2025, Freebirds! This episode is a MUST-listen for every woman! I’m joined by Ali Brady, a Functional Nutritionist and the founder of Project Menopause. Together, we ...
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Episode 179
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58:30
Why Taking Care of Yourself IS Taking Care of Others During the Holidays
This time of year, the media feeds us the message that we should be relaxed, feel connected to others, and experience joy, but our relationships are complex. Trying to “do it all,” that can leave us feeling exhausted, angry, and resentful. When...
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Episode 178
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19:25
Top 3 Life Lessons Every Woman Needs to Hear Before Turning 60
I recently celebrated my big 60th and have been reflecting on the past decade. I've experienced significant growth in the last ten years, made a few big life transitions and I've learned a few life lessons along the way that I’ll share with you...
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Episode 177
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35:41