Late Bloomer Living Podcast

We were all programmed to feel old. When we don’t question it, we shrink. Let’s talk about that.

When was the last time something changed in your life and you just... moved on? Didn't name it, didn't sit with it, just kept going? That's worth a second look. Kathy Mela spent 45 years in the NICU before becoming The Grief Navigator. Her take on grief will probably surprise you. Because she's not just talking about loss through death. She's talking about the grief of an empty nest, a career that ends, an identity you outgrow, a version of yourself you quietly left behind. In this conversation, Kathy breaks down why so many of us are walking around with unnamed grief and what it actually looks like to move through it. We get into the difference between sorrow and grief, why anger and disconnection are often grief in disguise, and a framework for navigating any life transition with more self-compassion and less self-judgment.

After losing his wife, Allen Klein discovered that laughter could live alongside grief. In this episode, we explore the healing power of humor — and what it really means to choose joy anyway.

A Valentine’s week reminder that love isn’t only romantic. Gail Zelitsky and Catherine Marienau share how friendship after 70 led to purpose and impact.

Always giving? Discover why people pleasing is a coping strategy—and how to reclaim yourself in midlife with Wendy Perrotti.

Most of us don’t think of ourselves as playful — especially at work. Play can feel awkward, indulgent, or like something we were supposed to outgrow. But what if that discomfort is actually pointing us toward something essential? In this episode of Late Bloomer Living, Yvonne Marchese sits down with playful change maker Brandi Heather to explore why play feels so uncomfortable for adults — and why that resistance might be exactly the clue we’re missing. For many of us, the word work no longer fits the shape of our lives — or it fits very differently than it once did. Careers change. Some end. Some slow down. But the work of living doesn’t stop. And neither does our need for creativity, connection, and a sense of aliveness. Brandi spent over 20 years as a kinesiology and health sciences professor before bringing her work into organizations, helping teams use play (often without calling it that) to reduce stress, improve communication, and unlock creativity. This isn’t about ping-pong tables in the break room or forced fun. It’s about nervous system regulation, self-awareness, resilience, and creating environments — at work and beyond — where people feel confident, connected, and capable of doing their best work. If you’ve ever thought, “Play sounds nice, but I have deadlines,” this conversation is for you. This episode matters because play isn’t a luxury — it’s a missing piece in how we work, cope, and stay human as adults.