June 12, 2025 • 31 mins
Sharon Macey's journey from stay-at-home mom to podcast host and competitive dancer offers a refreshing roadmap for life's second act. The question that guided her wasn't "What do I want to do when I grow up?" but rather "What do I want to do when my kids grow up?"—a subtle distinction that resonates deeply with women navigating the transition from active motherhood to their next chapter.
What makes Sharon's approach so accessible is her emphasis on baby steps. "The beauty of taking a baby step is that if it doesn't work, we can pivot," she explains, giving women permission to experiment without the pressure of getting it perfectly right the first time. Her own return to dance after many years away led her to Latin ballroom competitions, complete with spray tans and elaborate costumes—a testament to the joy that comes from reconnecting with forgotten passions.
The conversation explores how friendships evolve, family dynamics shift, and faith deepens as we age. Sharon challenges the notion that making friends gets harder with age, noting how her social circle has expanded in her sixties. Both women discuss the intentionality required to maintain connections with adult children while embracing this new phase of life. Most powerfully, Sharon reminds listeners that reinvention is deeply personal: "You do you, and no one does you better than you." Whether that means launching a podcast, playing pickleball, or simply focusing on wellness, the path forward should reflect your unique desires, not external expectations.
Ready to take your own baby step toward reinvention? Listen now and discover how the wisdom, resilience, and experience you've gained become your greatest assets in creating life's most meaningful chapters. What will you become when your children grow up?
Connect with Sharon and take a listen to her MOM to more podcast here:
Ready to FEARLESSLY FACE all the F WORDS – be inspired and encouraged?
Get a copy of Amy’s Best selling book: CANNONBALL! FEARLESSLY Facing Midlife and Beyond here
Fearlessly Facing Fifty and Beyond has over 200 episodes with inspiration and stories to age fearlessly and connect confidently to others thriving at midlife and beyond.
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And don’t forget to follow along on all the socials:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, Fearless Friends , it's Amy Schmidt and I am so
happy to be back with anotherepisode, and you know what?
It's an exciting one.
Of course it is because I usethat word every single time, but
this is a great one.
I have on a guest today thatactually our worlds are very
similar.
Yep, Yep, you know it.
Stay at home, mom.
I like to use that word.
Trailing spouse.
(00:20):
A lot of people say no, no, no,don't use that.
But Sharon Macy is my guesttoday.
She's amazing.
She's the podcast creator andhost of Mom to More, a top 3%
globally ranked podcast rightnow, and she's doing her thing.
So stay with me and buckle upfor this conversation with the
incredible Sharon Macy.
(00:44):
Well, fearless friends, as youheard in the intro, I'm very,
very excited to have thisconversation with somebody that
you know I admire.
I've been watching, she's beenjust on fire for her passion and
you know, Sharon, I'm superexcited.
Sharon Macy, I'm excited tohave you here.
Welcome to the show.
Thank you, I'm so excited to behere.
(01:05):
You know we have so manysimilarities, Sharon.
We'll talk about that, butfirst of all, I just want to
open this up by saying, rightnow, we just talked a little bit
before we started recording andwe said you know, I got the mom
hat on.
Today, Sharon's sitting in ahotel making this all happen
while life is unraveling aroundher, because we all know, as
moms, that stuff happens right.
(01:26):
I mean it just for whateverreason, when we least expect it,
things happen, but we're alwayson right.
We're always on as a mom.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
We're always on as mom, and no matter where our
kids are and no matter how oldour kids are, we're always there
for them, isn't that true?
I?
Speaker 1 (01:43):
want to ask you this before we really dig into
everything you're doing with Momto More and your podcast and
your speaking and everythingyou're doing If you're out.
So if you're sitting here withme and we're at lunch, Sharon,
and your phone rings and it'syour kid, do you pick it up, you
kind?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
of have to See.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Because you're always so afraid.
It's like, oh, what ifsomething's wrong, right, yeah,
yeah, I don't know why ourbrains always go to the negative
, I know, and sometimes I'll say, hey, I can't talk right now.
You know, if it's important,let me know that sort of thing.
But in general, yeah, I'll pickup for my kids before I pick up
for my husband.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
I know, okay, you heard it here first.
I mean, yes, exactly, and wewere out with friends a while
ago.
It was a big group of us andnot that any of I have three
kids, not that any of them werestruggling or you know whatever.
They're just going through lifein their orbit and they're all
doing fine.
But I'm with this group and I'mout to dinner and my phone
(02:43):
rings.
I didn't have my phone, I justhad it down here, or whatever.
I heard it ring.
No, you know what it was.
Sharon, I have a certainringtone for each kid.
Call me crazy, but I do, I dotoo.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
No, you're not crazy I do too.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, I heard it chirping, so I'm like hey, come
on, like, he's fine, like, but Ihad to answer it, so I'm very
happy that that you kind ofstand with me in that and maybe
everybody that's listening doestoo, because I do, I pick it up.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, I think it's something all moms can relate to
.
It's just, it's just inherentin who we are.
It's the mom gene.
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Well, let's talk about your story.
You've done a lot with Mom2Morein a pretty short period of
time.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You should really be proud of what you've
accomplished.
Thank you, amy.
I really am.
It's been so much fun More funthan I actually thought it was
going to be and super inspiring.
And the women, the moms thatI've had the privilege of
speaking with and interviewinglike you, the moms that I've had
the privilege of speaking withand interviewing like you, so
inspiring, and I'm just soblessed to count everybody as
friends now, which is soincredible.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, so you use the word fun I want you to define
that for me.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So how has it been fun?
For you?
It has been fun because I lovea challenge and I've always been
one of those people who lovesto challenge herself.
And this has been a challenge,but it's been a slow burn and
for me, challenges and when Iachieve little baby steps which
is what I talk about a lot it'sfun because it's those tiny
(04:19):
little victories that happen inthe long game and to me that's
fun.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, I would agree with that.
I think it's fun Talk to meabout the challenges.
Let's talk about the challengesbecause we keep it real here
and we fearlessly face all ofthese F-words as we age.
I mean, let's be honest, wefearlessly face family and
finances and fitness and foodand friends and all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Let's talk about the challenges we face because there
are some.
Oh, absolutely.
I think the challenges are wellmany and, again, as resilient
and wise women who have beenthere and done that over years,
I think as a mom, you learn toroll with the punches.
(05:03):
I think, as a mom, you learn toroll with the punches and, as
I've gotten older, that wholeconcept of oh, it's a challenge,
oh, it's a blip, it's justsomething that I have to move
beyond, and it becomes easierand easier, amy, which is really
interesting because I think, asI get older maybe you too
nothing rattles me as much.
I would agree, because, yeah,it's all, it's all we've.
(05:27):
We've experienced it before.
But the challenges with, I think, just starting the brand, I
knew that this podcast had toget started because, having been
a stay-at-home mom and andknowing other women who
reinvented into extraordinarynext chapters of their life and
I include you in that I knewthat these stories needed to be
told.
And so I thought, well, I'mgoing to reach out to some
(05:49):
friends, I'm going to grab a micand press record, and that's
really what happened.
And then you start dealing withissues like, okay, how
frequently?
And am I going to, how do I getmore people?
And things like that.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I remember somebody saying when I started don't look
at how many downloads you get,because it doesn't matter If
you've got one person listeningor you got 10,000 people
listening.
And I think that goes back tosomething I talk about.
A lot, too is the fact thatthere's so much validation that
we seek in our life.
We're looking for these littlepearls of validation along the
(06:23):
way, and I always say the onlylike we need is our like.
If we like ourselves, if wewake up and say I like me, hey,
that's all right.
So you know for someone like youand me that stayed home, raised
our kids and kind of put us onthe back burner for a while.
100%, it's possible to createthings that bring you joy and
(06:44):
fun and challenge.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Absolutely.
And what's really interestingabout that, amy and maybe you've
experienced this as well is,while I was home with the kids,
I kept thinking to myself whatdo I want to do when I grow up?
And I thought, well, that's odd, I'm a grown up, and I realized
that the real question was whatdo I want to do when my kids
grow up?
What is my next chapter goingto be?
And I didn't even have thewords for it, I didn't have the
(07:08):
phraseology for it, but I knewthat I had more inside of me and
I knew that I wasn't done, andthat is really what propelled me
into this next chapter of mylife.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah, I love that and I love Mom to More.
That's the name of the podcast.
I love everything linked in theepisode notes so people can
listen and follow along withSharon and everything that she
offers, because she does a lotof great stuff and I think I
like you so much and yourcontent resonates with me
because we walk the walk andtalk the talk.
You know, I mean we areauthentic people.
(07:42):
We are this is, this is me.
I mean I'm not putting on anypretenses.
I know you aren't either.
I mean we just want to shareour journeys and those of others
with people, to inspire them.
Because you just said what'snext for me after a mom, when
I'm a grownup?
Now I'm a mom and now my kidsare grown what is next?
(08:03):
There are so many people,sharon, that are listening right
now.
I know just dear friends ofmine that are in their 50s.
Their kids are grown and flownand they're like now what?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Now what?
Now what?
And I've spoken to so manywomen who are going through that
.
They gather at lunches and theytalk about what are we going to
do now that our kids aregetting older, and I would say,
you know my, my advice to thatwould be find something that
really resonates with your heartand soul and then go for it.
But that doesn't mean going forit in a big way.
(08:37):
That doesn't mean taking a bigjump.
That means taking a tiny littlestep and seeing how you can
make that work in however youknow, in whatever ways that are
that are comfortable for you andmeaningful for you.
So it could be writing a book,it could be going back to
painting, it could be going backto dance, which is something I
did after putting it aside forso many years.
We're going to talk about that.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I wish I had a little video to incorporate, right?
Sorry to interrupt you.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
No, no worries, but I think that you know, I also
realize that so many moms areafraid to take that very first
baby step.
And the beauty, amy, of takinga baby step is that okay, if it
doesn't work, we can pivot.
I mean, how many times have youand I tried something and went,
okay, that doesn't work.
And then we've pivoted right,we can all raise our hands right
(09:26):
, and so we've pivoted tosomething else.
And I think the beauty of thosetiny little baby steps is they
are not scary, it's not likejumping down off a cliff, it's
like taking little baby stepsdown the sidewalk.
And when you start that way, itbecomes so much easier.
And I think another thingthat's important that I've been
(09:48):
hearing from other women and Iknow for me and my heart is that
the failure is not tryingExactly.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Because you'll always have that sort of what if?
What if I had tried?
What if I had done, and wedon't want to end things that
way.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I agree, I agree.
You know I'm sure you've heardit, I've said it in my TED Talk,
I've said it so many times.
But you know, the first episodeof the Fearlessly Facing 50
podcast, I thought I hit it outof the ballpark.
I was like, ok, this is, thisis awesome, like I'm loving this
whole thing, until I forgot topush record on the whole episode
(10:25):
, you know, and it was like, ok,now Amy's epic fail, now what
am I going to do?
But you know what?
You said it earlier Thingsdon't rattle you as much.
They don't rattle you, they justkind of.
You're like, ok, all right,I'll do it again.
So what it again?
So what, Right?
Exactly, one person listens,great, and now will remember to
(10:46):
push record.
I learned from that.
But I want to talk to youbefore we talk about dancing,
because I do want to talk aboutthat, because I have a dear
friend from high school thatdances and I watch her and I'm
like, oh man, dancing with thestars is like my dream.
Why don't they have one of hermoms Like the golden
bachelorette?
I think they need like dancingwith the stars.
Moms dancing with the stars.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Mom's dancing with the stars.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
I think it would be great.
I want to ask you something,and I hope I can describe this
in a way I always try to becauseI think sometimes I have a hard
time describing it, but I hopeyou can get it.
There is such a light shownright now.
There's a spotlight onmenopause, on women over 50, all
(11:28):
of that, which I applaud and Ithink is fabulous.
With that, I think, also hascome a bit of trepidation for
some women over 50.
Because there are women you knowthink about middle school.
So there are women you knowthink about middle school when
we were walking those halls ofmiddle school or high school and
you're walking down and you'rethinking, oh man, am I going to
(11:49):
be invited to that party?
Oh man, she just got an A pluson that world history report and
I got to see.
Oh man, she just made thevarsity team and I didn't.
Oh, she's a cute cheerleader,she's got the hottest boyfriend.
All of that, all of thosethings that we go through in
middle school and high school,some of that now for some 50
plus women, I think it's hardfor them because they may not
(12:13):
want to launch a podcast.
This might not be their desireto do.
They may not want to write abook, they may not want to do
this grandiose thing, and nowthey're feeling a little
deflated because there's such aspotlight on achievement All
right.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Are you tracking a little bit?
Every time I say it, it's likeI can see it coming out, but I
don't know if it comes out inthe right way because I don't
want to put down what we'redoing after 50 because it's
fabulous, but I also don't wantto inhibit those or get people
feeling like they can't doanything great enough.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Oh well, first of all , I understand where you're
coming from.
That's a great question, Amy,Really great question.
Achievement comes from withinand however a woman wants to go
further into her life, you know,once the kids are gone, listen,
if someone just wants to playgolf all the time and go, I want
to get good at golf.
(13:12):
If someone just wants to playgolf all the time and go, I want
to get good at golf, hallelujah.
You know, I think they go forit and it doesn't.
You don't have to start abusiness.
I started a podcast which turnedinto a business and I realized
it was a brand I.
I didn't start it off that way,it sort of happened.
But I'd say, you know, forwomen who are listening to this,
(13:32):
who are just like my kids aregetting older, I'm so frigging
tired from all those years Ispent as a mom.
I just want to travel with myhusband or my friends, or maybe
focus on my fitness, focus on myhealth.
I want to maybe take a classhere and there.
I want to play pickleball, Iwant to play mahjong, A hundred
percent.
You do you, right, yes, and noone does you better than you,
(13:56):
Right?
So whatever that you is isbrilliant.
I don't think there should beany any pressure to do something
that makes you uncomfortable.
At the stage of our life, we'relike I'm doing this for me
because I love it and it makesme feel good, and that's why I
do it, and that's why you dowhat you do.
So you do you and you do youthe best.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
I love that you said that and we can all be better
from learning from each otherand looking, and not looking at
it with envy or with, you know,a feeling of being deflated.
We have to look and encourageeach other, and I love, and we
have to be ourselves, but I dohope that somebody listening
today or watching is saying, allright, amy did it, sharon did
(14:39):
it.
I think I can do something now.
It doesn't have to be a podcast, like you said, it can be
whatever, but I hope that theycan push play on something in
their life Because, as you know,this time of our life is
precious.
I mean, I had a husband who hada heart attack, completely
unexpected and unprepared.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And thank God, he's okay, I talk about it openly.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
I have his wishes to be able to do that.
He's doing fantastic and he'sgreat and healthier than ever,
but life is precious, yes.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
And it goes so fast.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yeah, it goes so fast .
Speaker 2 (15:15):
It goes so fast, and do you notice that the older we
get, the more?
Speaker 1 (15:17):
it speeds up.
Yeah, you know, didn't?
We always hear that too, andwe're always like, oh yeah,
whatever it does, it goes fast.
It does it really does?
I know let's talk about dancefor a minute, because I want to
hear your journey around this,because was this something that
you did as a young adult?
Speaker 2 (15:34):
So I danced as a kid.
I started, you know classicballet and jazz and then kept
dancing into high school andjazz was my thing.
I was a big jazz baby and woulddo recitals and things like
that.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Like you, were a jazz hands girl, jazz hands.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yeah.
And then I went to college andcontinued to dance and then
realized I can't make a careerout of this and I got into
advertising and marketing Flashforward.
Moving to New York, I continuedto dance masterclasses, martha
Graham and things like that,which were awesome, but then kid
years and there were really noplaces to dance as adults where
(16:15):
we lived in Connecticut and itwas all you know kid ballet and
things like that.
And then so years went by,couldn't really find classes,
itching to get back, andprobably about eight years ago I
found a studio that had kidsand adults and they had a really
robust adult program.
So I went back doing jazz anddid a recital or two and thought
that was fun and then thought,well, let me try standard
(16:38):
ballroom.
Hated it, okay, that was a biglearn lesson my neck, because
your neck has my neck had to beway back and I didn't like that.
But then I realized that therewas something called Latin
ballroom and I thought, well,this sounds a little more
cha-cha and a little more fun.
Okay, that just sounds fun,yeah, yeah.
And so I started taking lessonsand classes and then one day a
(16:58):
bunch of women walked in withthese shimmery, cha-cha, sexy
outfits and I said oh, what arethose for?
And they said we have acompetition coming up and I'm
like, wait, I can compete doingthis and that's how I began.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
That didn't intimidate you.
You go girl.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
No, that for me that was just like another goal, and
I set a goal that this year youknow, by the time I'm this age
I'm going to have my firstcompetition, and I did.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
That's amazing.
Yeah, I followed you on socialmedia about it, thank you, take
me to that moment.
Like, yeah, fun, yeah, I meanyou can see in your face and
people can tell if they'relistening how much joy that
brings you.
But take me to, I mean, puttingon the costume.
I mean, did you look in yourmirror and be like man, I'm a
badass?
Like okay, I can rock this?
(17:46):
Or were you like holy?
Speaker 2 (17:47):
cow like Sharon.
What am I doing?
Speaker 1 (17:48):
No, no, no, just like Sharon.
What am I doing?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
No, no, no, Just the opposite.
I loved it.
First of all, I look totallydifferent.
I have posted things and peoplesaid to me is that you or is
that somebody else?
Because I wear a ponytail, myhair's all slicked back, I'm
spray tanned, I've got makeupthat makes me look like a high
class hooker.
I just, you know, it's a wholedifferent look.
My husband, it's like he'smarried to a whole different
woman for about, you know, it'sa.
It's a whole different look.
My husband, it's like he'smarried to a whole different
(18:13):
woman for about, you know, 24hours.
And I just totally embraced it,amy, I loved it's almost like an
out of body experience, like Iwas playing someone else, but it
was all me and it's just somuch fun and I get so much joy
out of it.
I like to joke and say it's themost fun you can have with your
clothes on and it's just beenso much fun.
(18:35):
And you know I did really wellin bronze.
It's like bronze, silver, gold,like you know, like the
Olympics.
I won nationals in bronze.
I was a national champion inbronze.
I'm like, okay, yeah, that wasback in 22.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Okay, dancing with the stars.
If you're listening right now,here's your girl.
I mean, that's so cool.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Thank you, it was Thank you.
So now I'm in silver,definitely harder, choreography
is more intense and they, theyexpect more and yeah, so I just
continue on.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yeah, I love that.
Well, see you.
You talk, the talk and walk thewalk, I love it.
And dance, dance a little thedance, dance, dance, dance, the
dance, the dance, the dance, thedance.
Let's talk about these F-wordsthat we are facing as we age.
I mean, it's a big deal, andthat's really my whole impotence
about this whole series was, Iwas sitting around with my
husband and I'm like man,there's a whole lot of F-words
(19:26):
that we face.
And he's like Amy, yeah, andyou fearlessly face them.
I'm like, ok, well, that makessense.
So let's talk about friendships, because you know friendships
are.
I mean, I am blessed with greatfriends.
I surround myself with peopleof different ages and stages and
I think that adds a lot ofvalue for me.
But friends, as we get older,it's not so easy.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
You know it's interesting, Amy.
I've heard a lot of people saythat it's harder to make friends
the older you get, and I got totell you I find I'm, first of
all, I'm like you.
I'm blessed with just somepeople that have been in my life
for years and years and, andthose are my gold friends and we
, really we just honor those andwe, those are the women that I
feel you can like totally beyourself with right.
(20:13):
Yeah, you can cry, you can bereal, it's just.
Those are the women that I feelyou can like totally be
yourself with Right.
You can, you can cry, you canbe real.
It's just.
Those are the people that haveknown you for a hundred years.
But I feel that the older I get, and especially with the
podcast, I'm meeting new peopleand I'm expanding my friend
group and for me in my sixties,I'm like this is so cool.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
You're in your sixties, you are not.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
I am.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
You go, girl.
Amazing, Thank you.
I love that.
I mean I hear the 60s are evenbetter than the 50s.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So I'm I say bring it on.
You know, 60s is the new 40s,so there you go.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I say bring it on, yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
So friendship I would agree Fearlessly facing
friendship.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
And don't you find that friendships bloom and some,
some, some don't anymore?
Speaker 2 (20:59):
There are friends you might have to walk away from.
That's very true and it'sinteresting, annie, that's
something we tell our kids thatnot everybody is going to be on
your bus your entire life.
And yes, I've seen friendshipsjust sort of peter away, fizzle
away another F word.
And that's okay.
And that's okay.
And I always come back topeople come into your life for a
(21:19):
reason or a season.
What is that?
The third one, a reason or aseason, or something else?
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Oh right, I can't remember the third one either,
but you're right.
A reason, a season.
Well we'll think of it as soonas we go off.
It's true, and I think thatthere's so much value in having
friends that are younger andolder and it all just morphs
together.
I think we all morph togetherafter 30 anyway.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
We do.
That reminds me of my mom,who's in her 80s, and she's got
friends my age which I love.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
That's fabulous.
Fearlessly facing family.
Let's talk about that family.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Let's talk about that .
That has been such aninteresting journey and I love
this question because, like you,we are empty nesters.
Our kids are grown up andactually our son is going to be
getting married later this year,so we're thrilled about that
and everyone is doing their ownindependent lives and we are
literally spread from, you know,coast to coast.
But what we really do, which Ilove, is we make time for family
(22:19):
.
We'll still take to the best ofeveryone's abilities.
We will still take family tripstogether.
We love back roads, theseactive travel vacations, and we
have to plan them far in advance, but it's.
It's worth it and you know justthe time that we spend together
is so valuable and wonderful,and I think as the kids get
older, you just have to planmore.
(22:41):
Oh that's a good way of thinking.
I do think.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I think you have to plan more.
We were just recently in Londonand only two of the kids well,
one is studying there, but onlyone of the other kids could come
because of young adults andemerging careers and vacation
time limited and all of thosethings become very real and, I
think, fearlessly facing family.
There's a lot of different.
You know avenues off of that,but I would agree it takes
(23:06):
planning, um, and it also youknow I I had an interview with
my mother-in-law before sheturned 80 and um, I did it for a
couple of reasons.
One was because I don't have mymom's voice anymore and I wish
I did and I want that for myhusband and for his siblings and
for the grandkids.
But she said you know, aime,you just got to move that butt
(23:26):
over and scooch over a littlebit and make more room on the
couch for anybody that comesinto the Schmidt family.
And I really think that's sotrue.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Isn't that good.
I always talk about that, butfearlessly facing family.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
it's transitions again.
It's change but plan.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
I love that and you know it's interesting, like what
you just said, you were inLondon and you were only able to
have one of your kids.
It's really wonderful to dothat as well, because you have
that dedicated time with thatchild, and it's nice.
Exactly, exactly and it's nice.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, exactly Exactly .
And let's talk about.
I've got two more F's here,fearlessly facing finances.
How's that looking?
I mean, I think it's verydifferent in our fifties and
beyond.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
We got one more college tuition year and then
it's like, oh, thank goodness wehave one first year of graduate
school, so we have another year, year and change of that.
You know, I think, and if forthe younger moms who are, who
are listening to this, planning,planning, planning, planning,
(24:27):
you have to plan, you have tosacrifice when the kids are
younger, sacrifice when the kidsare younger.
So we have that cushion.
When we get older, and I can'tstress that enough, the wiser
you are and the more frugal youare, often when we are younger,
it pays off later in life.
I think it's just being smartfinancially.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Exactly, that's great advice.
Great advice, let's talk aboutfearlessly facing faith.
That's a big one.
That's a big one for me.
I've got a lot of guests comingon to talk about that very
thing.
But you know, faith discussionswith your kids or with your
spouse, or I mean I think.
I think that's something thatchanges as you get older.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
It does, you know it's, it's really interesting.
So for me, faith is is verypersonal, um, and I'll I don't
admit this too often, but I'mJewish and with everything going
on in the world that has been,that has been very uh, heavy in
in in lightning and heavy andand and insight, and even within
our family, Um, but it alsogives me a lot of strength and
(25:34):
meaning, and I saw this with myhusband's father, I saw this
with both of my parents that theolder they get, they got, and
even some of our friends, theolder they get, they're getting
more religious, and I don't knowif you want to say if religious
is the right word.
I think it's just more um, uh,you know, whatever God might be
to anyone, that's very, verypersonal.
(25:55):
Yes, so, you know, that is avery personal journey and I, you
know, I just think it justprovides me strength and meaning
as I get older.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Yeah, I would agree with that, and I feel as though
I have more discussions aroundfaith.
Yes, Friends of differentfaiths, learning more about
different faiths.
You know I was raised.
Our generation was kind of youknow I was Presbyterian.
You're either Catholic oryou're Lutheran, or you're
Presbyterian, or you're this oryou're that, or you know you're
labeled that way.
(26:26):
That is so evolved and changed.
I see that through my kids'relationships.
I love that, but yeah, I thinkit's something that we kind of
fearlessly face in it.
Those conversations change.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Oh, absolutely Absolutely, and I think our kids
are.
It's a very different outlooknow.
I think kids are far more blindto things like that.
It's like they're looking for aperson.
They're not looking for aperson.
You know, within your faithconfines, and I think that's
(27:07):
nice.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I think the world should be more like that anyway.
Women that.
I also admire very much, put usin touch with each other, and I
think that's such an importantpart of our journey now as women
.
Are those relationships that wecan have, these just the
network of women supporting eachother?
I think it's, and we talkedabout that at length.
(27:28):
I remember when I was still inConnecticut we talked about the
value in those friendships andyou know people really kicking
the door open and holding itopen for you.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Which I think is beautiful, and that's.
I think that's what a maturewoman's journey is.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
And we can both consider ourselves mature women
and have to give a shout out.
The person who actuallyintroduced us was Katie Fogarty.
Was it, Katie?
A certain age pod?
Yeah, it was Katie.
So thank you, Katie.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Oh she's fabulous.
Yeah, I love what she's doingso many women in this space that
are doing amazing things.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
There are, and I'm just so glad, I have to say I'm
so glad that you are back withyour podcast.
Thank you, because I love theconcept.
I let me you know, I interviewthe gift of interviewing you
almost a year ago.
It was like, yeah, it was likeyou came out last spring, late
spring, and just what you'redoing and all the F words which
I think are hilarious butthey're so meaningful and, yeah,
(28:22):
so I love watching you rise aswell.
This has been a mutualadmiration society.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Yeah, exactly, and you know the guest I had on
before.
We talked about the fact thatwe need to let women know when
we admire them, Like we can'tjust say, oh yeah, I'll tell her
, when I see her I'll reach outto her or whatever, and let her
know.
No, do it now.
Like if there's somebody rightnow that you know that you're
listening right now and you'resaying, oh man, I do really
admire that woman, I haven'ttold her.
(28:48):
Pick up the phone, send a text,whatever it is, let them know
because it is so important.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
It is, and you know what's interesting about that.
If there's a friend that youhave that you maybe haven't been
in touch with for a while andyou would like to reach back out
to them, a text is a great wayjust to say you've been on my
mind, I hope you're doing well,and often that can rekindle a
friendship you never know.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yes, I love that.
That's great wisdom.
Great wisdom so Mom2More rankedtop 3% globally podcast.
That's amazing.
I'll link that in the episodenotes.
I know you have some otherthings that you have going on
that women can work with you andI'll put that in the episode
notes as well.
Sharon with her journey and herpodcast, pop the earbuds in,
(29:35):
take a listen.
She's doing some fabulousthings.
And before we close today, Iwant to ask you the question
which I ask everybody, and thatis if you were sitting on the
couch, sharon, in a hotel room,like you are right now and you
look over and there's 30 yearold Sharon.
What advice would?
You give her what advice wouldyou give her?
Speaker 2 (29:53):
I love that question.
I would say to her don't be ina rush.
That you will do manyextraordinary and unexpected
things in your life and that youalone will make happen, and
(30:13):
that you simply have to believein the power and vision of you
doing that and then also thatreinvention.
This whole concept is a longgame and it evolves over many
years, and that's actuallysomething all of my guests talk
about.
So I would just say know inyour heart that you have what it
takes to do extraordinarythings in your life.
So if you're leaning intofamily life for a while, enjoy
(30:34):
it, be there, really experienceit, because it is so fleeting,
and then know that whatever yournext chapters in life are going
to be, you can get there,because you've got the wisdom,
you've got the resilience,you've got the fortitude, you've
got the mojo.
You have what it takes to makewhatever you want to have happen
happen.
(30:55):
That's what I'd say to her.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
I love that.
Sharon Macy, that's amazing.
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you, amy Schmidt.
Thank you for your time today.
I appreciate this.
I'm so glad we got this timetogether.
I am too.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Thank you, I'm excited to introduce you to the
world.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Those of you that might not know Sharon and what
she's doing, so I'm excitedabout it and thanks so much for
making and taking time for metoday.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Thank you.
I'm so grateful that youreached out to me and it's
always wonderful to see you.
And thank you again.
I love what you're doing andI'm so honored to be a part of
it, so thank you for that,thanks so much for listening
today.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
We know how valuable your time is and that's why we
keep it short and sweet.
Don't forget to follow us onall the socials, and you can
check out all the links andresources in the show notes.
Until next time, go forth andbe awesome.
Hey, Fearless Friends , it's Amy Schmidt and I am so
happy to be back with anotherepisode, and you know what?
It's an exciting one.
Of course it is because I usethat word every single time, but
this is a great one.
I have on a guest today thatactually our worlds are very
similar.
Yep, Yep, you know it.
Stay at home, mom.
I like to use that word.
Trailing spouse.
(00:20):
A lot of people say no, no, no,don't use that.
But Sharon Macy is my guesttoday.
She's amazing.
She's the podcast creator andhost of Mom to More, a top 3%
globally ranked podcast rightnow, and she's doing her thing.
So stay with me and buckle upfor this conversation with the
incredible Sharon Macy.
(00:44):
Well, fearless friends, as youheard in the intro, I'm very,
very excited to have thisconversation with somebody that
you know I admire.
I've been watching, she's beenjust on fire for her passion and
you know, Sharon, I'm superexcited.
Sharon Macy, I'm excited tohave you here.
Welcome to the show.
Thank you, I'm so excited to behere.
(01:05):
You know we have so manysimilarities, Sharon.
We'll talk about that, butfirst of all, I just want to
open this up by saying, rightnow, we just talked a little bit
before we started recording andwe said you know, I got the mom
hat on.
Today, Sharon's sitting in ahotel making this all happen
while life is unraveling aroundher, because we all know, as
moms, that stuff happens right.
(01:26):
I mean it just for whateverreason, when we least expect it,
things happen, but we're alwayson right.
We're always on as a mom.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
We're always on as mom, and no matter where our
kids are and no matter how oldour kids are, we're always there
for them, isn't that true?
I?
Speaker 1 (01:43):
want to ask you this before we really dig into
everything you're doing with Momto More and your podcast and
your speaking and everythingyou're doing If you're out.
So if you're sitting here withme and we're at lunch, Sharon,
and your phone rings and it'syour kid, do you pick it up, you
kind?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
of have to See.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, me too.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Because you're always so afraid.
It's like, oh, what ifsomething's wrong, right, yeah,
yeah, I don't know why ourbrains always go to the negative
, I know, and sometimes I'll say, hey, I can't talk right now.
You know, if it's important,let me know that sort of thing.
But in general, yeah, I'll pickup for my kids before I pick up
for my husband.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
I know, okay, you heard it here first.
I mean, yes, exactly, and wewere out with friends a while
ago.
It was a big group of us andnot that any of I have three
kids, not that any of them werestruggling or you know whatever.
They're just going through lifein their orbit and they're all
doing fine.
But I'm with this group and I'mout to dinner and my phone
(02:43):
rings.
I didn't have my phone, I justhad it down here, or whatever.
I heard it ring.
No, you know what it was.
Sharon, I have a certainringtone for each kid.
Call me crazy, but I do, I dotoo.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
No, you're not crazy I do too.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Yeah, I heard it chirping, so I'm like hey, come
on, like, he's fine, like, but Ihad to answer it, so I'm very
happy that that you kind ofstand with me in that and maybe
everybody that's listening doestoo, because I do, I pick it up.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, I think it's something all moms can relate to
.
It's just, it's just inherentin who we are.
It's the mom gene.
Yeah, I think so.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Well, let's talk about your story.
You've done a lot with Mom2Morein a pretty short period of
time.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You should really be proud of what you've
accomplished.
Thank you, amy.
I really am.
It's been so much fun More funthan I actually thought it was
going to be and super inspiring.
And the women, the moms thatI've had the privilege of
speaking with and interviewinglike you, the moms that I've had
the privilege of speaking withand interviewing like you, so
inspiring, and I'm just soblessed to count everybody as
friends now, which is soincredible.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
Yeah, so you use the word fun I want you to define
that for me.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So how has it been fun?
For you?
It has been fun because I lovea challenge and I've always been
one of those people who lovesto challenge herself.
And this has been a challenge,but it's been a slow burn and
for me, challenges and when Iachieve little baby steps which
is what I talk about a lot it'sfun because it's those tiny
(04:19):
little victories that happen inthe long game and to me that's
fun.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, I would agree with that.
I think it's fun Talk to meabout the challenges.
Let's talk about the challengesbecause we keep it real here
and we fearlessly face all ofthese F-words as we age.
I mean, let's be honest, wefearlessly face family and
finances and fitness and foodand friends and all that stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Let's talk about the challenges we face because there
are some.
Oh, absolutely.
I think the challenges are wellmany and, again, as resilient
and wise women who have beenthere and done that over years,
I think as a mom, you learn toroll with the punches.
(05:03):
I think, as a mom, you learn toroll with the punches and, as
I've gotten older, that wholeconcept of oh, it's a challenge,
oh, it's a blip, it's justsomething that I have to move
beyond, and it becomes easierand easier, amy, which is really
interesting because I think, asI get older maybe you too
nothing rattles me as much.
I would agree, because, yeah,it's all, it's all we've.
(05:27):
We've experienced it before.
But the challenges with, I think, just starting the brand, I
knew that this podcast had toget started because, having been
a stay-at-home mom and andknowing other women who
reinvented into extraordinarynext chapters of their life and
I include you in that I knewthat these stories needed to be
told.
And so I thought, well, I'mgoing to reach out to some
(05:49):
friends, I'm going to grab a micand press record, and that's
really what happened.
And then you start dealing withissues like, okay, how
frequently?
And am I going to, how do I getmore people?
And things like that.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
I remember somebody saying when I started don't look
at how many downloads you get,because it doesn't matter If
you've got one person listeningor you got 10,000 people
listening.
And I think that goes back tosomething I talk about.
A lot, too is the fact thatthere's so much validation that
we seek in our life.
We're looking for these littlepearls of validation along the
(06:23):
way, and I always say the onlylike we need is our like.
If we like ourselves, if wewake up and say I like me, hey,
that's all right.
So you know for someone like youand me that stayed home, raised
our kids and kind of put us onthe back burner for a while.
100%, it's possible to createthings that bring you joy and
(06:44):
fun and challenge.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Absolutely.
And what's really interestingabout that, amy and maybe you've
experienced this as well is,while I was home with the kids,
I kept thinking to myself whatdo I want to do when I grow up?
And I thought, well, that's odd, I'm a grown up, and I realized
that the real question was whatdo I want to do when my kids
grow up?
What is my next chapter goingto be?
And I didn't even have thewords for it, I didn't have the
(07:08):
phraseology for it, but I knewthat I had more inside of me and
I knew that I wasn't done, andthat is really what propelled me
into this next chapter of mylife.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Yeah, I love that and I love Mom to More.
That's the name of the podcast.
I love everything linked in theepisode notes so people can
listen and follow along withSharon and everything that she
offers, because she does a lotof great stuff and I think I
like you so much and yourcontent resonates with me
because we walk the walk andtalk the talk.
You know, I mean we areauthentic people.
(07:42):
We are this is, this is me.
I mean I'm not putting on anypretenses.
I know you aren't either.
I mean we just want to shareour journeys and those of others
with people, to inspire them.
Because you just said what'snext for me after a mom, when
I'm a grownup?
Now I'm a mom and now my kidsare grown what is next?
(08:03):
There are so many people,sharon, that are listening right
now.
I know just dear friends ofmine that are in their 50s.
Their kids are grown and flownand they're like now what?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Now what?
Now what?
And I've spoken to so manywomen who are going through that
.
They gather at lunches and theytalk about what are we going to
do now that our kids aregetting older, and I would say,
you know my, my advice to thatwould be find something that
really resonates with your heartand soul and then go for it.
But that doesn't mean going forit in a big way.
(08:37):
That doesn't mean taking a bigjump.
That means taking a tiny littlestep and seeing how you can
make that work in however youknow, in whatever ways that are
that are comfortable for you andmeaningful for you.
So it could be writing a book,it could be going back to
painting, it could be going backto dance, which is something I
did after putting it aside forso many years.
We're going to talk about that.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
I wish I had a little video to incorporate, right?
Sorry to interrupt you.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
No, no worries, but I think that you know, I also
realize that so many moms areafraid to take that very first
baby step.
And the beauty, amy, of takinga baby step is that okay, if it
doesn't work, we can pivot.
I mean, how many times have youand I tried something and went,
okay, that doesn't work.
And then we've pivoted right,we can all raise our hands right
(09:26):
, and so we've pivoted tosomething else.
And I think the beauty of thosetiny little baby steps is they
are not scary, it's not likejumping down off a cliff, it's
like taking little baby stepsdown the sidewalk.
And when you start that way, itbecomes so much easier.
And I think another thingthat's important that I've been
(09:48):
hearing from other women and Iknow for me and my heart is that
the failure is not tryingExactly.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Because you'll always have that sort of what if?
What if I had tried?
What if I had done, and wedon't want to end things that
way.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I agree, I agree.
You know I'm sure you've heardit, I've said it in my TED Talk,
I've said it so many times.
But you know, the first episodeof the Fearlessly Facing 50
podcast, I thought I hit it outof the ballpark.
I was like, ok, this is, thisis awesome, like I'm loving this
whole thing, until I forgot topush record on the whole episode
(10:25):
, you know, and it was like, ok,now Amy's epic fail, now what
am I going to do?
But you know what?
You said it earlier Thingsdon't rattle you as much.
They don't rattle you, they justkind of.
You're like, ok, all right,I'll do it again.
So what it again?
So what, Right?
Exactly, one person listens,great, and now will remember to
(10:46):
push record.
I learned from that.
But I want to talk to youbefore we talk about dancing,
because I do want to talk aboutthat, because I have a dear
friend from high school thatdances and I watch her and I'm
like, oh man, dancing with thestars is like my dream.
Why don't they have one of hermoms Like the golden
bachelorette?
I think they need like dancingwith the stars.
Moms dancing with the stars.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Mom's dancing with the stars.
I like that.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
I think it would be great.
I want to ask you something,and I hope I can describe this
in a way I always try to becauseI think sometimes I have a hard
time describing it, but I hopeyou can get it.
There is such a light shownright now.
There's a spotlight onmenopause, on women over 50, all
(11:28):
of that, which I applaud and Ithink is fabulous.
With that, I think, also hascome a bit of trepidation for
some women over 50.
Because there are women you knowthink about middle school.
So there are women you knowthink about middle school when
we were walking those halls ofmiddle school or high school and
you're walking down and you'rethinking, oh man, am I going to
(11:49):
be invited to that party?
Oh man, she just got an A pluson that world history report and
I got to see.
Oh man, she just made thevarsity team and I didn't.
Oh, she's a cute cheerleader,she's got the hottest boyfriend.
All of that, all of thosethings that we go through in
middle school and high school,some of that now for some 50
plus women, I think it's hardfor them because they may not
(12:13):
want to launch a podcast.
This might not be their desireto do.
They may not want to write abook, they may not want to do
this grandiose thing, and nowthey're feeling a little
deflated because there's such aspotlight on achievement All
right.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
How do you feel about that?
Speaker 1 (12:32):
Are you tracking a little bit?
Every time I say it, it's likeI can see it coming out, but I
don't know if it comes out inthe right way because I don't
want to put down what we'redoing after 50 because it's
fabulous, but I also don't wantto inhibit those or get people
feeling like they can't doanything great enough.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Oh well, first of all , I understand where you're
coming from.
That's a great question, Amy,Really great question.
Achievement comes from withinand however a woman wants to go
further into her life, you know,once the kids are gone, listen,
if someone just wants to playgolf all the time and go, I want
to get good at golf.
(13:12):
If someone just wants to playgolf all the time and go, I want
to get good at golf, hallelujah.
You know, I think they go forit and it doesn't.
You don't have to start abusiness.
I started a podcast which turnedinto a business and I realized
it was a brand I.
I didn't start it off that way,it sort of happened.
But I'd say, you know, forwomen who are listening to this,
(13:32):
who are just like my kids aregetting older, I'm so frigging
tired from all those years Ispent as a mom.
I just want to travel with myhusband or my friends, or maybe
focus on my fitness, focus on myhealth.
I want to maybe take a classhere and there.
I want to play pickleball, Iwant to play mahjong, A hundred
percent.
You do you, right, yes, and noone does you better than you,
(13:56):
Right?
So whatever that you is isbrilliant.
I don't think there should beany any pressure to do something
that makes you uncomfortable.
At the stage of our life, we'relike I'm doing this for me
because I love it and it makesme feel good, and that's why I
do it, and that's why you dowhat you do.
So you do you and you do youthe best.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
I love that you said that and we can all be better
from learning from each otherand looking, and not looking at
it with envy or with, you know,a feeling of being deflated.
We have to look and encourageeach other, and I love, and we
have to be ourselves, but I dohope that somebody listening
today or watching is saying, allright, amy did it, sharon did
(14:39):
it.
I think I can do something now.
It doesn't have to be a podcast, like you said, it can be
whatever, but I hope that theycan push play on something in
their life Because, as you know,this time of our life is
precious.
I mean, I had a husband who hada heart attack, completely
unexpected and unprepared.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And thank God, he's okay, I talk about it openly.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
I have his wishes to be able to do that.
He's doing fantastic and he'sgreat and healthier than ever,
but life is precious, yes.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
And it goes so fast.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Yeah, it goes so fast .
Speaker 2 (15:15):
It goes so fast, and do you notice that the older we
get, the more?
Speaker 1 (15:17):
it speeds up.
Yeah, you know, didn't?
We always hear that too, andwe're always like, oh yeah,
whatever it does, it goes fast.
It does it really does?
I know let's talk about dancefor a minute, because I want to
hear your journey around this,because was this something that
you did as a young adult?
Speaker 2 (15:34):
So I danced as a kid.
I started, you know classicballet and jazz and then kept
dancing into high school andjazz was my thing.
I was a big jazz baby and woulddo recitals and things like
that.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
Like you, were a jazz hands girl, jazz hands.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Yeah.
And then I went to college andcontinued to dance and then
realized I can't make a careerout of this and I got into
advertising and marketing Flashforward.
Moving to New York, I continuedto dance masterclasses, martha
Graham and things like that,which were awesome, but then kid
years and there were really noplaces to dance as adults where
(16:15):
we lived in Connecticut and itwas all you know kid ballet and
things like that.
And then so years went by,couldn't really find classes,
itching to get back, andprobably about eight years ago I
found a studio that had kidsand adults and they had a really
robust adult program.
So I went back doing jazz anddid a recital or two and thought
that was fun and then thought,well, let me try standard
(16:38):
ballroom.
Hated it, okay, that was a biglearn lesson my neck, because
your neck has my neck had to beway back and I didn't like that.
But then I realized that therewas something called Latin
ballroom and I thought, well,this sounds a little more
cha-cha and a little more fun.
Okay, that just sounds fun,yeah, yeah.
And so I started taking lessonsand classes and then one day a
(16:58):
bunch of women walked in withthese shimmery, cha-cha, sexy
outfits and I said oh, what arethose for?
And they said we have acompetition coming up and I'm
like, wait, I can compete doingthis and that's how I began.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
That didn't intimidate you.
You go girl.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
No, that for me that was just like another goal, and
I set a goal that this year youknow, by the time I'm this age
I'm going to have my firstcompetition, and I did.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
That's amazing.
Yeah, I followed you on socialmedia about it, thank you, take
me to that moment.
Like, yeah, fun, yeah, I meanyou can see in your face and
people can tell if they'relistening how much joy that
brings you.
But take me to, I mean, puttingon the costume.
I mean, did you look in yourmirror and be like man, I'm a
badass?
Like okay, I can rock this?
(17:46):
Or were you like holy?
Speaker 2 (17:47):
cow like Sharon.
What am I doing?
Speaker 1 (17:48):
No, no, no, just like Sharon.
What am I doing?
Speaker 2 (17:51):
No, no, no, Just the opposite.
I loved it.
First of all, I look totallydifferent.
I have posted things and peoplesaid to me is that you or is
that somebody else?
Because I wear a ponytail, myhair's all slicked back, I'm
spray tanned, I've got makeupthat makes me look like a high
class hooker.
I just, you know, it's a wholedifferent look.
My husband, it's like he'smarried to a whole different
woman for about, you know, it'sa.
It's a whole different look.
My husband, it's like he'smarried to a whole different
(18:13):
woman for about, you know, 24hours.
And I just totally embraced it,amy, I loved it's almost like an
out of body experience, like Iwas playing someone else, but it
was all me and it's just somuch fun and I get so much joy
out of it.
I like to joke and say it's themost fun you can have with your
clothes on and it's just beenso much fun.
(18:35):
And you know I did really wellin bronze.
It's like bronze, silver, gold,like you know, like the
Olympics.
I won nationals in bronze.
I was a national champion inbronze.
I'm like, okay, yeah, that wasback in 22.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Okay, dancing with the stars.
If you're listening right now,here's your girl.
I mean, that's so cool.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Thank you, it was Thank you.
So now I'm in silver,definitely harder, choreography
is more intense and they, theyexpect more and yeah, so I just
continue on.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yeah, I love that.
Well, see you.
You talk, the talk and walk thewalk, I love it.
And dance, dance a little thedance, dance, dance, dance, the
dance, the dance, the dance, thedance.
Let's talk about these F-wordsthat we are facing as we age.
I mean, it's a big deal, andthat's really my whole impotence
about this whole series was, Iwas sitting around with my
husband and I'm like man,there's a whole lot of F-words
(19:26):
that we face.
And he's like Amy, yeah, andyou fearlessly face them.
I'm like, ok, well, that makessense.
So let's talk about friendships, because you know friendships
are.
I mean, I am blessed with greatfriends.
I surround myself with peopleof different ages and stages and
I think that adds a lot ofvalue for me.
But friends, as we get older,it's not so easy.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
You know it's interesting, Amy.
I've heard a lot of people saythat it's harder to make friends
the older you get, and I got totell you I find I'm, first of
all, I'm like you.
I'm blessed with just somepeople that have been in my life
for years and years and, andthose are my gold friends and we
, really we just honor those andwe, those are the women that I
feel you can like totally beyourself with right.
(20:13):
Yeah, you can cry, you can bereal, it's just.
Those are the women that I feelyou can like totally be
yourself with Right.
You can, you can cry, you canbe real.
It's just.
Those are the people that haveknown you for a hundred years.
But I feel that the older I get, and especially with the
podcast, I'm meeting new peopleand I'm expanding my friend
group and for me in my sixties,I'm like this is so cool.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
You're in your sixties, you are not.
Speaker 2 (20:33):
I am.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
You go, girl.
Amazing, Thank you.
I love that.
I mean I hear the 60s are evenbetter than the 50s.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
So I'm I say bring it on.
You know, 60s is the new 40s,so there you go.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I say bring it on, yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
So friendship I would agree Fearlessly facing
friendship.
Speaker 1 (20:58):
And don't you find that friendships bloom and some,
some, some don't anymore?
Speaker 2 (20:59):
There are friends you might have to walk away from.
That's very true and it'sinteresting, annie, that's
something we tell our kids thatnot everybody is going to be on
your bus your entire life.
And yes, I've seen friendshipsjust sort of peter away, fizzle
away another F word.
And that's okay.
And that's okay.
And I always come back topeople come into your life for a
(21:19):
reason or a season.
What is that?
The third one, a reason or aseason, or something else?
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Oh right, I can't remember the third one either,
but you're right.
A reason, a season.
Well we'll think of it as soonas we go off.
It's true, and I think thatthere's so much value in having
friends that are younger andolder and it all just morphs
together.
I think we all morph togetherafter 30 anyway.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
We do.
That reminds me of my mom,who's in her 80s, and she's got
friends my age which I love.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
That's fabulous.
Fearlessly facing family.
Let's talk about that family.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Let's talk about that .
That has been such aninteresting journey and I love
this question because, like you,we are empty nesters.
Our kids are grown up andactually our son is going to be
getting married later this year,so we're thrilled about that
and everyone is doing their ownindependent lives and we are
literally spread from, you know,coast to coast.
But what we really do, which Ilove, is we make time for family
(22:19):
.
We'll still take to the best ofeveryone's abilities.
We will still take family tripstogether.
We love back roads, theseactive travel vacations, and we
have to plan them far in advance, but it's.
It's worth it and you know justthe time that we spend together
is so valuable and wonderful,and I think as the kids get
older, you just have to planmore.
(22:41):
Oh that's a good way of thinking.
I do think.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I think you have to plan more.
We were just recently in Londonand only two of the kids well,
one is studying there, but onlyone of the other kids could come
because of young adults andemerging careers and vacation
time limited and all of thosethings become very real and, I
think, fearlessly facing family.
There's a lot of different.
You know avenues off of that,but I would agree it takes
(23:06):
planning, um, and it also youknow I I had an interview with
my mother-in-law before sheturned 80 and um, I did it for a
couple of reasons.
One was because I don't have mymom's voice anymore and I wish
I did and I want that for myhusband and for his siblings and
for the grandkids.
But she said you know, aime,you just got to move that butt
(23:26):
over and scooch over a littlebit and make more room on the
couch for anybody that comesinto the Schmidt family.
And I really think that's sotrue.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
Isn't that good.
I always talk about that, butfearlessly facing family.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
it's transitions again.
It's change but plan.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
I love that and you know it's interesting, like what
you just said, you were inLondon and you were only able to
have one of your kids.
It's really wonderful to dothat as well, because you have
that dedicated time with thatchild, and it's nice.
Exactly, exactly and it's nice.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Yeah, exactly Exactly .
And let's talk about.
I've got two more F's here,fearlessly facing finances.
How's that looking?
I mean, I think it's verydifferent in our fifties and
beyond.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
We got one more college tuition year and then
it's like, oh, thank goodness wehave one first year of graduate
school, so we have another year, year and change of that.
You know, I think, and if forthe younger moms who are, who
are listening to this, planning,planning, planning, planning,
(24:27):
you have to plan, you have tosacrifice when the kids are
younger, sacrifice when the kidsare younger.
So we have that cushion.
When we get older, and I can'tstress that enough, the wiser
you are and the more frugal youare, often when we are younger,
it pays off later in life.
I think it's just being smartfinancially.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Exactly, that's great advice.
Great advice, let's talk aboutfearlessly facing faith.
That's a big one.
That's a big one for me.
I've got a lot of guests comingon to talk about that very
thing.
But you know, faith discussionswith your kids or with your
spouse, or I mean I think.
I think that's something thatchanges as you get older.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
It does, you know it's, it's really interesting.
So for me, faith is is verypersonal, um, and I'll I don't
admit this too often, but I'mJewish and with everything going
on in the world that has been,that has been very uh, heavy in
in in lightning and heavy andand and insight, and even within
our family, Um, but it alsogives me a lot of strength and
(25:34):
meaning, and I saw this with myhusband's father, I saw this
with both of my parents that theolder they get, they got, and
even some of our friends, theolder they get, they're getting
more religious, and I don't knowif you want to say if religious
is the right word.
I think it's just more um, uh,you know, whatever God might be
to anyone, that's very, verypersonal.
(25:55):
Yes, so, you know, that is avery personal journey and I, you
know, I just think it justprovides me strength and meaning
as I get older.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Yeah, I would agree with that, and I feel as though
I have more discussions aroundfaith.
Yes, Friends of differentfaiths, learning more about
different faiths.
You know I was raised.
Our generation was kind of youknow I was Presbyterian.
You're either Catholic oryou're Lutheran, or you're
Presbyterian, or you're this oryou're that, or you know you're
labeled that way.
(26:26):
That is so evolved and changed.
I see that through my kids'relationships.
I love that, but yeah, I thinkit's something that we kind of
fearlessly face in it.
Those conversations change.
Speaker 2 (26:37):
Oh, absolutely Absolutely, and I think our kids
are.
It's a very different outlooknow.
I think kids are far more blindto things like that.
It's like they're looking for aperson.
They're not looking for aperson.
You know, within your faithconfines, and I think that's
(27:07):
nice.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I think the world should be more like that anyway.
Women that.
I also admire very much, put usin touch with each other, and I
think that's such an importantpart of our journey now as women
.
Are those relationships that wecan have, these just the
network of women supporting eachother?
I think it's, and we talkedabout that at length.
(27:28):
I remember when I was still inConnecticut we talked about the
value in those friendships andyou know people really kicking
the door open and holding itopen for you.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
Which I think is beautiful, and that's.
I think that's what a maturewoman's journey is.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
And we can both consider ourselves mature women
and have to give a shout out.
The person who actuallyintroduced us was Katie Fogarty.
Was it, Katie?
A certain age pod?
Yeah, it was Katie.
So thank you, Katie.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
Oh she's fabulous.
Yeah, I love what she's doingso many women in this space that
are doing amazing things.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
There are, and I'm just so glad, I have to say I'm
so glad that you are back withyour podcast.
Thank you, because I love theconcept.
I let me you know, I interviewthe gift of interviewing you
almost a year ago.
It was like, yeah, it was likeyou came out last spring, late
spring, and just what you'redoing and all the F words which
I think are hilarious butthey're so meaningful and, yeah,
(28:22):
so I love watching you rise aswell.
This has been a mutualadmiration society.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Yeah, exactly, and you know the guest I had on
before.
We talked about the fact thatwe need to let women know when
we admire them, Like we can'tjust say, oh yeah, I'll tell her
, when I see her I'll reach outto her or whatever, and let her
know.
No, do it now.
Like if there's somebody rightnow that you know that you're
listening right now and you'resaying, oh man, I do really
admire that woman, I haven'ttold her.
(28:48):
Pick up the phone, send a text,whatever it is, let them know
because it is so important.
Speaker 2 (28:55):
It is, and you know what's interesting about that.
If there's a friend that youhave that you maybe haven't been
in touch with for a while andyou would like to reach back out
to them, a text is a great wayjust to say you've been on my
mind, I hope you're doing well,and often that can rekindle a
friendship you never know.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Yes, I love that.
That's great wisdom.
Great wisdom so Mom2More rankedtop 3% globally podcast.
That's amazing.
I'll link that in the episodenotes.
I know you have some otherthings that you have going on
that women can work with you andI'll put that in the episode
notes as well.
Sharon with her journey and herpodcast, pop the earbuds in,
(29:35):
take a listen.
She's doing some fabulousthings.
And before we close today, Iwant to ask you the question
which I ask everybody, and thatis if you were sitting on the
couch, sharon, in a hotel room,like you are right now and you
look over and there's 30 yearold Sharon.
What advice would?
You give her what advice wouldyou give her?
Speaker 2 (29:53):
I love that question.
I would say to her don't be ina rush.
That you will do manyextraordinary and unexpected
things in your life and that youalone will make happen, and
(30:13):
that you simply have to believein the power and vision of you
doing that and then also thatreinvention.
This whole concept is a longgame and it evolves over many
years, and that's actuallysomething all of my guests talk
about.
So I would just say know inyour heart that you have what it
takes to do extraordinarythings in your life.
So if you're leaning intofamily life for a while, enjoy
(30:34):
it, be there, really experienceit, because it is so fleeting,
and then know that whatever yournext chapters in life are going
to be, you can get there,because you've got the wisdom,
you've got the resilience,you've got the fortitude, you've
got the mojo.
You have what it takes to makewhatever you want to have happen
happen.
(30:55):
That's what I'd say to her.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
I love that.
Sharon Macy, that's amazing.
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you, amy Schmidt.
Thank you for your time today.
I appreciate this.
I'm so glad we got this timetogether.
I am too.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
Thank you, I'm excited to introduce you to the
world.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Those of you that might not know Sharon and what
she's doing, so I'm excitedabout it and thanks so much for
making and taking time for metoday.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Thank you.
I'm so grateful that youreached out to me and it's
always wonderful to see you.
And thank you again.
I love what you're doing andI'm so honored to be a part of
it, so thank you for that,thanks so much for listening
today.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
We know how valuable your time is and that's why we
keep it short and sweet.
Don't forget to follow us onall the socials, and you can
check out all the links andresources in the show notes.
Until next time, go forth andbe awesome.
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