Power of After Show

Hosted by Deborah Johnson

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417

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Power of After Show is a podcast for midlife professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone asking, "What's next?" If you're feeling stuck, ready for a career change, or searching for purpose in the second half of life, this show helps you gain clarity and direction. Hosted by Deborah Johnson, this podcast focuses on midlife transition, career change after 40 and 50, personal growth, and designing your next chapter with purpose. You'll learn how to leverage your experience, skills, and relationships to build a meaningful life, business, or lifestyle that aligns with who you are now. Each month, you'll hear: -Practical strategies for navigating midlife change and uncertainty -Mindset shifts to help you move forward when you feel stuck -Conversations on relationships, finances, and life transitions -Insights on using technology and AI to support your next chapter -Real-life discussions with Deborah and her husband Greg on marriage, family, and life after raising children Whether you're considering a career pivot, starting a business, or redefining success, this podcast gives you the tools and perspective to move forward with confidence. Your next chapter isn't behind you—it's waiting to be built. 🎧 Learn more: https://PowerofAfter.com

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August 18, 2026Episode 41759 min

417.Hunger Signals and Health with John Poothullil

What if some of the most common assumptions about hunger, weight gain, and chronic disease are missing a critical piece of the puzzle? On this episode of the Power of After Show, I'm joined by Dr. John Poothullil for a thought-provoking conversation about hunger signals, metabolic health, and the body's natural ability to regulate itself. Together, we'll explore why obesity, diabetes, and even cancer continue to rise despite decades of conventional health advice, and we'll discuss practical alternatives that challenge mainstream thinking. Whether you're looking to improve your health, understand your body's signals more clearly, or simply hear a different perspective on some of today's biggest health challenges, this episode will encourage you to think deeper about the connection between hunger, nutrition, and long-term wellness. More info on Dr. Poothullil at: https://drjohnonhealth.com Full article here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/hunger-signals YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/8Ccy61VGQ-A Watch and subscribe to channel! Chapters 0:00 Introduction and Guest Background 4:15 Why Conventional Health Advice Fails 8:30 Real Hunger vs. Conditioned Habits 12:45 The Impact of Grains on Insulin 16:30 Why Diabetics Still Experience Hunger 20:15 Childhood Eating Patterns and Society 24:45 How the Brain Meters Nutrient Intake 29:00 The Science and Importance of Chewing 33:30 Distraction and the Problem with Overeating 38:00 The History of Grains and Chronic Disease 43:15 Lessons from Native American Metabolic Health 47:30 The Root Cause of Type 2 Diabetes 52:00 The Truth About Weight Loss Medications 55:15 Defining Your Authentic Weight 58:30 Practical Takeaways for Wellness 59:43 Conclusion Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

August 11, 2026Episode 41628 min

416.Developing Life's Rhythm with Deborah Johnson

As we move into mid-career and the halftime of life, many of the routines that once shaped our days begin to change. The demands of raising a family lessen, careers evolve or completely change, and new opportunities—and responsibilities—emerge. Instead of having every hour spoken for, we suddenly have more choices about how to spend our time. That freedom is a tremendous gift, but it also requires intentionality. If we don't design our lives around what matters most, it's easy to fill our calendars with activity while neglecting our deeper purpose. Today, we'll explore how developing healthy daily, weekly, and monthly rhythms can help you build a lifestyle that reflects your values, supports your goals, and creates a more purposeful and fulfilling next chapter. Full article here: https://GoalsForYourLife.com/lifes-rhythm YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/u8yd-GovmEY Watch and Subscribe to our channel! Chapters 0:00 Intro and the Mid-Career Shift 3:10 Transitioning from External Demands to Freedom 6:05 Why Rhythm Creates Creative Freedom 8:45 Establishing Monthly Rhythms and Priorities 12:15 Weekly Rhythms for Consistent Momentum 15:50 The Power of Daily Habits and Morning Routines 19:20 Creating Space for Side Projects and Dreams 22:40 Prioritizing Experiences and Relationships 25:30 Evaluating and Adjusting Your Life Rhythm 27:45 Conclusion and Final Encouragement See the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/u8yd-GovmEY Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

August 4, 2026Episode 41553 min

415.Overcoming Loss with Music and Purpose with Mike Gomoll

One of the remarkable things about reaching mid-career—or what I often call the "Power of After" stage of life—is that we have something incredibly valuable to offer: decades of relationships, experience, and the ability to bring people together around a meaningful purpose. Sometimes that purpose grows out of life's greatest joys, and other times it emerges from its deepest heartbreaks. Today's guest, Mike Gomoll, is a powerful example of that. After the devastating loss of his son Joe to epilepsy, Michael and his family transformed their grief into a mission that has touched thousands of lives. Because Joe loved music—even though epilepsy left him non-verbal—they chose music as the vehicle to create hope, awareness, and funding for epilepsy research. Through that mission, they've inspired legendary artists including Cheap Trick, The Go-Go's, Tears for Fears, The Bangles, Guns N' Roses, and many others to perform in the middle of a Wisconsin winter, raising more than two million dollars since 2011. Today we'll talk about overcoming loss, discovering renewed purpose, and how your greatest challenges can become the foundation for your most meaningful impact. More about Mike Gomoll and Joey's Song: https://joeyssong.org Full article here: https://GoalsForYourlife.com/overcoming-loss Chapters 0:00 Intro and the Power of After 2:45 Meeting Mike Gomoll and Joey's Song 5:12 The Reality of Epilepsy and Dravet Syndrome 8:30 Navigating Grief as a Family 12:15 Moving Forward Together After Loss 15:40 What Everyone Should Know About Epilepsy 19:20 The Different Manifestations of Seizures 23:10 Starting a Charity from Heartbreak 26:45 Why Music was the Perfect Vehicle for Joe 30:15 The Growth of Joey's Song and Early Challenges 34:20 Getting Legendary Artists to Madison in Winter 38:10 The Magic of Freezing Man and Artist Collaborations 42:30 How Research Funding Makes a Real Difference 46:15 The Future of Joey's Song and Mike's Legacy 50:00 Advice for Finding Your Own Opportunity 53:21 End of Episode Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

July 28, 2026Episode 41423 min

414.Move Beyond Setbacks with Deborah Johnson

Life has a way of rewriting our plans. Just when we think we've settled into a comfortable rhythm, something changes—a career takes an unexpected turn, a relationship shifts, our health demands more attention, or financial and family responsibilities reshape the future we imagined. At mid-career, these moments can leave us wondering whether we're moving forward or simply trying to recover. Yet I've become convinced that setbacks aren't meant to keep us stuck. They can become invitations to grow, adapt, and discover strengths we didn't know we possessed. That's the heart behind today's episode and the message I've been developing for my upcoming book, Move Beyond, releasing later this year. Together, let's explore how to move beyond life's inevitable setbacks with greater confidence, purpose, and hope for what's next. Full article here: https://GoalsForYourLife.com/beyond-setbacks Chapters 0:00 Life Rewrites Our Plans 2:30 Common Mid-Career Setbacks 5:00 The Power of Reframing Your Story 7:15 Principle 1: Separate Event From Identity 9:45 Principle 2: Focus on What You Can Control 13:00 Principle 3: Health as an Investment 16:20 Principle 4: Strengthening Financial Confidence 19:40 Principle 5: Building on Your Experience 22:00 Taking Your Next Intentional Step Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

July 21, 2026Episode 41348 min

413.Unlearning Insecure Thinking with Alma Derricks

Feeling like an outsider is far more common than most people admit—and that applies to men just as much as women, even if they don't always say it out loud. Our guest today, Alma Derricks, empowers adventurous leaders and global brands to uncover blind spots and think beyond conventional limits. Having worked with an impressive range of both traditional and creative companies, Alma brings deep insight into what it takes to grow through change. Even if you don't see yourself as an "adventurous leader," this conversation will challenge the insecure voice many of us need to unlearn, helping us embrace creative thinking, self-leadership, and the courage it takes to pivot successfully into what's next. More about Alma here: https://rev.la Full article here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/unlearning-insecure-thinking Watch, then subscribe on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/kJQvHa6yBTw Chapters 0:00 Introduction to Alma Derricks 3:20 Slaloming through career disruptions 7:45 Contrasting Deloitte and Cirque du Soleil 1 2:10 Why established companies become risk averse 16:30 Unlearning the business school mindset 21:00 How to identify your unique superpowers 25:40 Transitioning from corporate to solo consulting 30:15 The art of selling value and solving problems 34:50 Managing insecurity in high stakes environments 39:20 Adopting an entrepreneurial scan of the market 43:40 Innovation versus invention in the age of AI 47:10 Final advice and how to start your next act Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

July 14, 2026Episode 41223 min

412.Legacy Driven Entrepreneurship with Deborah Johnson

Many people reach mid-career or the halftime of life with a wealth of experience, skills, relationships, and wisdom, yet find themselves asking an important question: "How do I turn all of this into something that truly matters?" Today on the Power of After Show, we're exploring the concept of legacy-driven entrepreneurship—building something that goes beyond earning a paycheck or growing a business. It's about leveraging what you've learned over a lifetime to create meaningful impact, serve others, and leave a lasting contribution. Whether through mentoring, consulting, creating content, launching a business, or supporting your community, your next chapter may be less about accumulation and more about significance. We'll discuss how to transform experience into influence, purpose into action, and success into a legacy that continues to make a difference long after you're gone. Full article here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/legacy-driven-entrepreneurship YouTube video: https://youtu.be/XhljK6F89dE Watch and subscribe! Chapters 0:00 Intro to Legacy-Driven Entrepreneurship 1:35 Shifting from Earning to Impact 4:50 Leveraging Your Life Experience as an Asset 7:45 Redefining Success and Purpose 10:20 Designing Your Ideal Lifestyle 13:15 Using Systems and Automation for Freedom 16:00 Planning for Life After Retirement 19:10 The Power of Human Connection in an AI World 21:40 Defining Your Final Legacy and Epitaph Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

July 7, 2026Episode 41147 min

411.Marketing for Artists: How to Turn Talent into Income with Robert Emery

What does it really take to turn talent into a thriving career in the arts? On this episode of the Power of After Show, I sit down with world-class conductor and former child prodigy Robert Emery to explore the intersection of creativity and entrepreneurship. With over two decades in the industry, Robert shares how he continues to decide "what's next," stay motivated, and build a sustainable business beyond raw talent. From growing a powerful email list and touring the world as a conductor and music director, to creating orchestral meditation music and launching Ted's List--his influential music education platform, this conversation offers practical insight and inspiration for anyone looking to transform artistic passion into meaningful income and long-term impact. Additionally, I hope you will be inspired to continue enjoying and promoting the arts in your sphere of influence. More info about Robert Emery here: https://robertemery.com Ted's List here: https://teds-list.com/ Orchestral Meditations here: https://orchestralmeditations.com/en/ YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/kVlsREDtLWQ Watch and subscribe! Chapters 0:00 Intro and the intersection of arts and business 3:45 Robert Emerys journey from prodigy to conductor 7:10 Redefining what is next in your career 10:50 Overcoming setbacks and the power of mindset 15:20 Staying motivated through professional variety 19:30 The Ask the Maestro daily video challenge 23:15 Why every creative must act like a business 27:00 Marketing tips and the 1000 true fans theory 31:45 The story behind Teds List music education 36:10 Recording orchestral meditation at Abbey Road 40:50 The science of sound frequencies and healing 44:20 Manifestation and putting dreams into action 47:52 Conclusion and final thoughts Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

June 30, 2026Episode 41024 min

410.Growing Through Mid-Career with Grace and Grit with Deborah Johnson

Grace and grit are two qualities we desperately need at mid-career and halftime of life. Grace gives us the perspective and patience to navigate change without panic, while grit gives us the courage to keep moving forward even when growth feels uncomfortable. It's the willingness to do the hard things. Inspired in part by the classic film True Grit, this episode of The Power of After Show explores why some of the most meaningful growth in life happens through challenges, transitions, and the willingness to do difficult things. If you've been asking "What's next?" or feeling stretched by change, this conversation will encourage you to keep climbing forward with purpose and resilience. Full article here: https://GoalsForYourLife.com/grace-and-grit ✨ Key Takeaways from this Episode: 🚀 Why growth requires resistance, much like building physical muscle. 🚀 How to leverage your accumulated wisdom as a transferable strength in the age of AI. 🚀 The importance of being a beginner again to stay relevant in your industry. 🚀 How to build confidence through action rather than waiting for it to arrive. 🚀 Navigating relationships with aging parents and adult children with intentional grace. Whether you are looking to reinvent your career or simply find more meaning in your daily life, this episode offers the encouragement you need to step out of your comfort zone and into your most purposeful chapter yet. Chapters 0:00 Intro: Grace and Grit at Mid-Career 2:15 Lessons from True Grit and the Halftime of Life 4:45 Navigating Mid-Career Crossroads and Uncertainty 7:30 Why Growth Requires Discomfort and Resistance 10:15 The Power of Grace and Perspective 13:00 Developing Courage Through Risk 15:45 Practical Grit: Choosing Growth Over Comfort 18:30 Why Your Experience Matters in the Age of AI 21:15 Building Confidence Through Action 23:30 Moving Forward with Purpose and Next Steps Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

June 23, 2026Episode 40947 min

409.Need to Get Away? Curated Travel at Halftime with Wesley Baker

I've often shared that these are the "travel years" for my husband and I. We've seen this window close for our parents and feel like it's important to take advantage of opportunity and health! We have such an interesting guest today in Wesley Baker. He is a Bestselling author and entrepreneur with 40+ years experience, sharing real-life stories from travel, business, and life, leading numerous adventures all around the world and inspires others to explore what's next for them. We will be discussing today some of the current challenges in travel and how he delivers exceptional travel experiences through his PureOneGroup travel company. Find out more about Wesley at: https://www.wesleybaker.com Full article here: https://GoalsForYourLife.com/curated-travel Chapters 0:00 Intro and the importance of travel years 2:15 Meet Wesley Baker: From software developer to CEO 5:10 Writing a bestseller from an ICU bed 7:45 The spark that ignited a love for global culture 10:20 How our travel perspectives shift with maturity 13:40 Why travel should be a necessity for your mind 16:15 Navigating modern challenges in the travel industry 19:30 The rise of small group and independent tours 22:00 Sustainability and the joy of slow travel 25:10 It is never too late: Traveling with health issues 28:45 Finding value and safety in unique destinations 32:15 The evolution of cruising and river tours 35:40 Industry recovery and the reality of travel costs 38:20 Breaking the habit of saving too much for the future 41:30 The healing power of nature and slowing down 44:15 Lessons on prioritizing health over possessions 46:50 Final wisdom and where to connect with Wesley Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com

June 16, 2026Episode 40830 min

408.Appearance vs. Reality: How to Align Your Life with What Truly Matters with Deborah Johnson

Before walking onto a stage, there's always a certain amount of self-talk. For years, a colleague and I would encourage each other with a simple pep talk before a concert—something to sharpen our focus and concentration. Coaches do the same before athletic events. These moments are designed to build confidence, motivation, and clarity. Today's message is a kind of pep talk as well—a reminder to realign with what truly matters: our values, purpose, and the life we're intentionally creating. At halftime of life, we are often given a unique opportunity: the chance to reassess, realign, and intentionally create a next chapter based not on pressure or performance, but on purpose and values. This stage of life is not about starting over from zero. It is about building wisely from everything already accumulated—skills, experience, relationships, wisdom, resilience, and perspective. Full article here: https://GoalsForYourLife.com/appearance-vs-reality Watch & Subscribe on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/N2x3QpYS7T4 Chapters 0:00 Intro and the Power of After Show / 2:45 The Trap of Appearance and Modern Culture / 6:20 Defining Core Values as Your Internal Compass / 10:15 Aligning Your Daily Schedule with Your Values / 13:00 Finding Purpose as an Anchor for Your Next Chapter / 16:30 Designing Your Desired Lifestyle and Flexibility / 19:45 Valuing Your Accumulated Experience and Skills / 23:15 Using Technology and AI as Expansion Tools / 26:45 The Process of Realignment and Honesty / 29:15 Practical Steps and Reflection Questions / 30:15 Final Thoughts and Conclusion Get POWER OF AFTER BOOK HERE: https://amzn.to/3GpEGlJ Make sure you're getting all our podcast updates and articles! Get them here: https://goalsforyourlife.com/newsletter Resources with tools and guidance for mid-career individuals, professionals & those at the halftime of life seeking growth and fulfillment: http://HalftimeSuccess.com