Episode Title: From Woodstock to Wisdom: Discovering Your Purpose at Any Age with Vicki Thomas

Episode Summary In this inspiring episode of Her Comeback, Michelle sits down with Vicki Thomas, Chief Purpose Officer of My Future Purpose, to talk about reinvention, purpose, and creating meaningful work later in life. After a successful career in media and marketing—including leadership roles at ABC TV—Vicki found herself asking a powerful question: Who am I beyond my job title?

That question launched a decades-long journey of self-discovery that ultimately led her to helping others uncover their unique purpose. Now in her 70s, Vicki continues to inspire people to live intentionally and create meaningful impact in the second half of life.

Vicki also shares insights from her new book, From Woodstock to Wisdom, where she reflects on the lessons learned from the cultural revolution of the 1960s through the wisdom gained over decades of personal growth and purpose-driven work. Her story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to redefine your path and step into the life you were meant to live.

About Our Guest Vicki Thomas is the Chief Purpose Officer at My Future Purpose, a membership organization dedicated to helping people discover and activate their life purpose through workshops, speakers, and community.

She previously held executive leadership roles in media and marketing, including working at ABC TV and serving as Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for the Credit Union National Association.

Vicki is also an award-winning social impact leader. She received a $100,000 Purpose Prize from Encore.org for her work raising awareness for Purple Heart Homes, a nonprofit that provides housing solutions for older veterans.

Her creative career has also included producing PBS programming and nationally recognized projects such as the Dancing Grannies exercise videos and programs about retirement and the Senior Olympics.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why many high-achieving women eventually feel something is “missing” despite professional success
• The powerful question that changed Vicki’s life: Who am I beyond my job description?
• Insights from her new book From Woodstock to Wisdom and the lessons that shaped her journey
• Why purpose does not retire—even if your career does
• The difference between a career identity and a purpose-driven life
• How discovering your purpose can create a powerful second chapter

Key Takeaways

• You are more than your job title or career role. • Feelings of restlessness can be an invitation to deeper purpose. • Reinvention can begin at any age—even in your 60s or 70s. • Purpose-driven living brings meaning to both personal and professional life. • The second half of life can be the most impactful chapter.

Connect with Vicki Thomas

Learn more about purpose discovery and the My Future Purpose community: Website: https://myfuturepurpose.com

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Her Comeback | Episode Notes

Guest: Mikki Williams — Global Speaker, Storyteller & Accidental Influencer at 82

Mikki Williams is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), inductee of the prestigious CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, and TEDx speaker recognized by Meetings & Conventions Magazine alongside Tony Robbins and Bill Gates. She's spoken in every U.S. state, every Canadian province, and every continent except Antarctica — always in stilettos. A former award-winning Vistage speaker and Chair Emeritus of two peer advisory boards, Mikki runs Speaker School, Keynote Camp, and her coaching practice from Naples, Florida. Oh, and she recently went viral on TikTok with 1.2 million views.

The Defining Moment At 28, Mikki had achieved her dream — married to her college sweetheart, a two-year-old son, a home in the suburbs. Then at 2 a.m., a knock at the door changed everything. Her 29-year-old husband was killed in a car accident. No job, a mortgage, and very little life insurance. That night became the catalyst for a life she never could have planned.

Finding Untapped Potential Forced to reinvent herself, Mikki dug into her natural talents — dance and cooking — and built a career from scratch. She taught dance, launched a catering business, grew a health club, and belly danced on the side. (Her son Jason, she jokes, stood behind her and jiggled the furniture.) Her dance school became one of the largest in the country, and her catering business launched at the same time as that of a student named Martha Stewart — Mikki is featured in Martha Inc.

Staying One Step Ahead of Pain A turning point came when a no-nonsense mentor pulled Mikki out of her grief and pointed her back toward the stage. She credits the relentless drive to keep moving — for her son, for herself — as the thing that kept her one step ahead of the pain. She also shares that even today, a Beatles song can stop her in her tracks.

Experience List vs. Bucket List Mikki doesn't believe in bucket lists — things to do before you die. She creates an experience list — things to do while fully alive. The key? Write each item as a mini-story, not a bullet point. The brain holds onto stories. She manifested driving two laps on the Indy 500 track in front of 300,000 fans, waltzing in Vienna, and attending the Kentucky Derby in Millionaire's Row in an outrageously large hat.

The Setbacks That Kept Coming At 50, Mikki was embezzled out of every penny she had and rebuilt from zero — borrowing $5,000 to fly to Arizona for a consultant who changed everything. At 65, breast cancer. Her memoir-in-progress is titled We Interrupt This Life to Bring You — because that's how she sees adversity: interruptions, not endings.

Going Viral at 82 A friend suggested TikTok. Mikki hired a 17-year-old to film a casual closet tour. She introduced herself as "an all-natural 82-year-old" — and woke up to 1.2 million views. Her first instinct? Google it to make sure that was a good thing.

Key Takeaways

• When the worst thing happens, you still have choices.
• Dig into what you can do, not what you've lost.
• Replace your bucket list with an experience list — write stories, not items.
• Staying busy isn't avoidance; sometimes it's survival, and survival becomes thriving.
• It's never too late to disrupt. Mikki became an influencer at 82.

Connect with Mikki Williams

• Website: mikkiwilliams.com
• Facebook: Mikki Williams
• Instagram: @mikkiwilliamsunltd
• TikTok: @mikkigogo

Episode Resources: www.hercomebackpodcast.com

Guest: Dr. Antoinette Cruz, Founder of Providence Family Life Center & Mind-Body Movement Living Laboratory

Journey to Body-Centered Trauma Recovery

• Transitioned from traditional clinical work at University of Michigan and Columbia University
• Recognized gap between treating symptoms vs. addressing root causes of trauma
• Developed integrated approach combining mental health, chronic illness, and wellness

Hurricane Irma Awakening (2017)

• Personal experience with hurricane trauma revealed lack of mental health preparedness
• No emotional support systems in place for disaster victims
• Began addressing both housing needs and emotional trauma recovery

Mind-Body Movement Living Laboratory

• Teaches trauma survivors how to understand their nervous system
• Uses somatic experiencing and yoga to help body release stored trauma
• Focus: "The body keeps the score" - trauma lives in the body, not just the mind
• Provides tools for nervous system regulation and stress management

Hurricane Ian Response (2022)

• Worked with FEMA and Red Cross in disaster shelters
• Helped 200+ people with housing, repairs, and relocation
• Observed complex trauma from multiple hurricane experiences
• Developed disaster support groups and breathwork sessions

Providence Family Life Center Origins (2008)

• Started after personal life transformation as single mom
• Began with 3 bags of clothes, coffee pot, and crock pot
• Grew from 20 people on Thursday nights to 300+ every Saturday
• Focus on homeless individuals with undiagnosed mental illness

Success Story: Hollywood General Motors

• Homeless for 26 years with schizophrenia diagnosis
• Through advocacy, became stabilized with housing and benefits
• Now employed 6 years, authored book, reconnected with family after 40+ years
• Exemplifies lives transformed through integrated care approach

Research & Impact

• 30-day study shows immediate decrease in anxiety, stress, and insomnia
• Participants gain motivation for self-care and healthcare engagement
• Community-based model emphasizes partnerships and collaboration

Personal Comeback Journey

• Career changer who returned to education at midlife
• Earned degrees from University of Michigan as non-traditional student
• Now grandmother pursuing doctorate and running innovative programs
• Living example of transformation after 50

Vision for Future

• Integration of traditional medicine with holistic/alternative approaches
• Community-based prevention models
• Education to give people agency over their own healing
• Collaboration between MDs, alternative healers, and community workers

Contact Information

Website: www.mbmll.live Phone: (239) 676-3159 Social Media: @ProvidenceFamilyLifeCenter (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn)

Her Comeback with Denise Quinn

https://www.youtube.com/@MichelleThompson-LifeCoaching

https://hercomebackpodcast.com/

Guest: Denise Quinn, PCC, MBA - Career Transition Coach

About Denise: Career transition coach specializing in mid-career professionals navigating layoffs, career changes, business ventures, and retirement transitions. Works with both laid-off candidates and currently employed individuals seeking change.

Key Topics Discussed:

The Journey to Reinvention (6-7 years)

• Experienced two layoffs; first after 20 years with one company (2016-2017)
• Second layoff became catalyst for leaving corporate permanently
• Got coaching certification after first layoff, discovering passion for helping others
• Transitioned through stages: nonprofit work, 4-year university coaching role, then independent practice (launched October 2024)

Navigating Doubts & Challenges:

• Primary concern: finances (benefits, stability, new house purchase)
• Husband initially biggest skeptic due to financial impact
• Had supportive tribe of women friends and mentors who understood the journey
• Made "baby steps" rather than immediate leap—moved to higher education coaching role first

The "What Have I Done?" Moment:

• Stress around leaving full-time job and carrying family health benefits
• Husband's supportive nature vs. practical concerns
• Finding courage through community support and faith

Biggest Lessons:

• Career transitions don't have to be quick or linear
• Progress happens in ebbs and flows with multiple stages
• Baby steps, even when feeling slow, move you forward
• Each person's strategy and timeline is unique (3 months to years)

Value of Coaching:

• Women are often their own worst critics, underestimating skills and value
• Coaches challenge assumptions and roadblocks we create
• Denise offers both coaching (building confidence) and consulting (resume review, LinkedIn optimization, strategy)
• Even coaches need coaches—can't see our own blind spots

Advice for Women Considering Transition: Start with thinking, then research, then strategic planning. Consider: classes needed, volunteer opportunities, networking groups. Small actions lead to significant progress.

Contact: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisequinnpcc/ or dmqcoaching@icloud.com Offers free 15-20 minute consultations to ensure good fit

HER COMEBACK WITH LISA PANOS - EPISODE NOTES https://hercomebackpodcast.com – Hosted by Michelle Thompson

GUEST: Lisa Panos Author of "Big Girl Pants" | Relationship Advisor | Naples, Florida

ABOUT LISA: Lisa Panos has been helping individuals and couples navigate meaningful change for over 12 years. Trained through the Martha Beck Institute (Oprah's life coach) and the Gottman Institute (world-renowned for research-based relationship approaches), Lisa's work is rooted in emotional awareness, personal responsibility, and the belief that change begins when we stop blaming others and start listening to our feelings. She specializes in working with people in midlife—often in second marriages, blended families, or long-term partnerships under pressure—who want lasting change, not quick fixes.

KEY MOMENTS:

· The Third Grade Turning Point: Lisa shares the pivotal moment when she was held back in third grade after switching to private school. This experience planted the seed of "I'm not smart enough"—a belief that shaped her relationships for years. By seventh grade, unable to process feelings of jealousy and insecurity, she became a "mean girl" and was suspended. This early chapter reveals how unprocessed emotions can drive destructive behavior.

· From Mean Girl to Mentor: Today's Lisa is unrecognizable from that seventh grader. Through growth and self-awareness work, she learned to pause and identify her emotions—asking herself "What am I feeling right now?" This skill transformed how she navigates all her relationships, allowing her to respond rather than react.

· The Power of Emotional Awareness: Lisa emphasizes that we weren't taught to deal with emotions growing up. Now, she helps clients sit with "big, scary feelings" like jealousy, insecurity, and suffocation. Understanding these emotions is the gateway to healthier relationships with ourselves and others.

· Evolving Beyond Her Own Book: In a candid moment, Lisa reveals that re-reading "Big Girl Pants" (written 10 years ago) showed her how much she's grown. What felt like guru-level wisdom then now feels incomplete—much of it was about blaming her husband rather than the deeper self-awareness work she practices today. A new book may be on the horizon.

· New Program Launch: Lisa is launching a 6-month intensive coaching program combining individual and couples work. Using research-backed tools from the Gottman Institute—tools she wishes she'd had in her first marriage—she'll help clients develop self-awareness while teaching practical relationship skills. The goal: To bring better versions of themselves to the relationship and practice new tools together.

Why This Work Matters

The most fulfilling moments for Lisa come when couples enter a session angry and disconnected, then leave touching and reconnecting after using the tools. "Everyone needs help," she says, and watching transformation happen makes her feel complete, happy, and fulfilled, allowing her to be a better partner, friend, and mom.

CONNECT WITH LISA:

Website: www.lisapanos.com (under construction with new programs)

Services: Zoom sessions available nationwide; in-person sessions in Naples, Florida

EPISODE THEME:

Growth isn't linear—it's a continuous journey of becoming better versions of ourselves. Lisa's story proves that our greatest struggles can become our greatest gifts when we're willing to look inward and do the work.

Her Comeback: Transforming Your Life After 50 - hercomebackpodcast.com

Guest: Suzanne Doyle-Ingram, Book Publisher & Author Coach

From Self-Doubt to Confidence - Episode Overview:

In this powerful and honest conversation, Michelle welcomes Suzanne Doyle-Ingram, an experienced book publisher who has helped over 1,000 people around the world bring their books to life. Suzanne shares her personal journey from self-doubt and fear to confidence, clarity, and purpose—proving that transformation doesn’t require perfection, just courage and action.

What We Talk About:

• Suzanne’s early fear of failure and why she published her first book under a fake name
• How confidence is built through action, not before it
• Turning a financial crisis into a bestselling opportunity
• Why your natural gifts often feel “easy” to you—but are life-changing for others
• Using evidence (thank-you notes, wins, reminders) to silence self-doubt
• Navigating divorce, independence, and the belief: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me”
• What it really takes to support yourself financially as a woman in midlife
• Why Suzanne doesn’t consider herself a “writer”—and why that shouldn’t stop you
• The importance of simplicity, structure, and clear intention when writing a book
• The truth about AI: why it should NOT write or edit your book or replace your authentic voice; what it can be used for
• The myth of the “easy button” and why meaningful success requires doing the work

Key Takeaways:

• Confidence grows when you help others and collect proof of your impact
• You don’t need to love writing to write a meaningful book
• Over-complicating is often what keeps women stuck—simplicity creates momentum
• Your message already lives inside you; organization brings it out
• There is no shortcut to purpose—but there is a clear path forward

This episode is especially empowering for women in midlife who are questioning their confidence, redefining success, or feeling called to share their story in a bigger way.

Why This Episode Matters:

If you’re a woman in midlife who feels called to reinvent your life, write a book, or step into your purpose, this episode will remind you that everything you need is already within you. Suzanne’s story proves that transformation is possible at any stage of life—and your comeback can start today.

Connect & Learn More: Suzanne Doyle-Ingram is a seasoned publisher and mentor who helps entrepreneurs and professionals write strategic books that support their mission and business

https://prominencepublishing.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannedoyleingram/

Subscribe & Share

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to never miss a conversation and share it with someone who needs to hear Suzanne's story today.

Her Comeback: Transforming Your Life After 50 - hercomebackpodcast.com

Season 2, Episode 1

Guest: Cheryl Dillon

Founder of Funderful Experiences & Connected Hearts Community

Summary

In this powerful season premiere, host Michelle Thompson welcomes Cheryl Dillon, who transformed her life in her 50s by deliberately designing her next chapter instead of waiting for change to happen. Cheryl shares honest, vulnerable insights about making the shift from "doing the right things" to "doing YOUR thing"—and why midlife is the perfect time to start.

🔑 Key Takeaways

The Wake-Up Call Cheryl's pivotal realization: "If I want my life to be different, now's the time to do it, because if not now, then when?" She stopped waiting for life to feel different and started designing it herself—using the self-awareness and emotional intelligence that come with age.

Breaking Free from External Validation For decades, you've been the "good girl, good wife, good daughter." Cheryl asks: "Whose beliefs were those? Whose expectations were those?" You deserve to do things YOU love and be happy. This isn't selfish; it's essential.

The Pattern-Breaking Principle "If you keep doing what you're doing, you're gonna keep getting what you're getting." Cheryl saw patterns in older relatives she didn't want to repeat and made bold moves to change course. What patterns are you unconsciously following?

Connection Over Therapy Many midlife women crave deep conversations but don't need clinical help—they need authentic community. What's missing: emotional safety, vulnerability without judgment, and conversations beyond surface-level topics.

The Resilience Secret Be your own best friend. During transitions, practice self-trust, self-love, and self-care. Treat yourself the way you expect others to treat you. When you do this, you'll attract people and situations that mirror that care back. Resilience comes from within.

Identity Loss Is Real Whether you're an empty nester, divorcing, widowed, retiring, or looking in the mirror wondering "what happened?"—these transitions are like "little deaths" requiring grief. But after grief comes opportunity to design what's next.

From Complacency to Action Post-pandemic, Cheryl lost motivation—preferring sweatpants at home. She pushed through by getting certified in event planning and launching her business. Sometimes you need new skills to build your new life. Connection and transformation require bold moves and conscious decisions.

Overcoming Past Hurts Cheryl admits she was "scared of groups of women" due to competition, gossip, and exclusion. But she intentionally built the supportive community she always wanted. You can create something different now.

Connect with Cheryl

The Uplift Newsletter: Weekly inspiration and practical tips Subscribe: funderfulexperiences.com/get-the-uplift

Connected Hearts Community: Face-to-face membership for women 50s-60s Location: Coastal North County San Diego Learn more: funderfulexperiences.com

Also offering: Private coaching and mediation for divorce transitions

Bottom Line:

You have wisdom now you didn't have before. Use it. Your next chapter won't design itself—but you absolutely can design it.

Her Comeback — Bonus Episode

Relationship with the Divine

Host: Michelle Thompson | Type: Bonus Episode / Book Excerpt

Episode Overview

In this special bonus episode, host Michelle Thompson shares an intimate excerpt from her upcoming book — a chapter she almost didn't write. The topic? Spirituality. Michelle opens up about her complicated, decades-long journey from fear-based religion to a deeply personal relationship with the divine, and why she believes this transformation has been the greatest of her life.

"It's not really about God — it's about the beliefs we carry for decades that were never really ours to begin with."

What You'll Hear in This Episode

Michelle takes us through the full arc of her spiritual evolution:

• Growing up as a preacher's kid in an Independent Baptist household — three church services a week, piano, ensembles, Sunday school, and the unspoken pressure to be perfect
• Why she walked away from church after high school and why, for years, religion and God felt like the same fear-based thing
• Her entry into 12-step recovery and the first time someone distinguished religion from spirituality — a distinction that changed everything
• The pivotal quote from Vine Deloria Jr.: "Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for those who've already been there."
• A transformative 10-day silent meditation retreat — and what happened on day eight in solitary meditation
• The stories of Corrie ten Boom and Dr. Edith Eger, Holocaust survivors whose unshakeable faith in the darkest imaginable circumstances reframed Michelle's understanding of suffering and trust
• How she stopped blaming God for the bad and started seeing her own "track record" — evidence that things worked out, often better than she imagined

Key Themes

Old beliefs vs. your own beliefs — Many of us carry spiritual frameworks that were handed to us, not chosen. This episode invites you to examine which ones still serve you.

Control and surrender — Michelle is refreshingly honest about being a self-described "self-sufficient control freak" and the ongoing daily practice of letting go.

Faith over fear — Moving from a punishing, fearful concept of God to a loving, guiding presence that strengthens rather than scares.

Reflection Questions to Sit With

1. What long-held spiritual or religious belief has shaped your life — and might be worth reexamining?
2. How do you define the difference between religion and spirituality?
3. If you had full permission to define your own higher power, what qualities would it have?
4. Where in your life right now might letting go open new doors?
5. Can you look back at a difficult chapter and see how something good came from it?

Connect & Resources

• 🎙️ Subscribe on YouTube: Michelle Thompson Life Coaching
• 🌐 Visit: hercombackpodcast.com for notes, resources & community
• 📖 Michelle's book — coming soon

Your setback isn't your final chapter. It's the setup for your greatest comeback.