Midlife Strategies for Badass Women

What happens when life as you knew it suddenly disappears and there is no handbook for what comes next?

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Midlife Strategies for Badass Women, Sue Willoughby sits down with Stephanie Olivo to talk about grief, healing, energy, and rebuilding life after devastating loss.

Stephanie shares the story behind her podcast Discontinued, Now What?, which was born after experiencing multiple life-altering losses in a short period of time. Her stepson died from an overdose, and just over a year later, her husband died by suicide. What followed was not a neat healing arc, but a long, messy, deeply personal journey through grief, spirituality, and self-discovery.

Together, Sue and Stephanie explore why we avoid talking about death, addiction, and trauma, how unprocessed emotions live in the body, and why healing is not something you “get over,” but something you learn to live with. They dive into alternative healing modalities like Reiki, hypnotherapy, and energy work, and how curiosity and openness can create unexpected breakthroughs.

This episode is for anyone navigating grief, loss, major life transitions, or the quiet question so many women ask in midlife: Now what?

In this episode, we cover:

• The losses that led Stephanie to create Discontinued, Now What?
• Navigating grief after overdose and suicide
  
• Why there is no timeline for healing
  
• How grief and trauma live in the body
  
• The role of Reiki, hypnotherapy, and energy work in healing
  
• Why talking about death and addiction matters
  
• Recognizing emotional triggers and where they live physically
  
• Protecting your energy in relationships, work, and daily life
  
• How sensitivity to energy shows up in unexpected places, including real estate
  
• Why healing is a journey, not a destination

Chapters
[00:00:00] Intro & Guest Welcome

[00:03:40] Where’s the Handbook Grief Loss & Closing the Business

[00:06:19] Talking About Suicide Addiction & Creating an Outlet Through the Podcast

[00:11:47] Tools That Helped Journaling Meditation & Spiritual Connection

[00:24:41] Energy Work Reconnection & Reiki Experiences

[00:48:45] Closing Gems How to Connect & Healing Is a Journey

 

Resources and Links:

• Website: https://www.dcnw.info/
• Podcast: Discontinued, Now What?
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiscontinuedNowWhat/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_dcnw_/

Book: https://amzn.to/4qVGyV3  The Voyage and the Return: A Path to Self Discovery (contributing author)

 

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🔥 Welcome to Midlife Strategies for Badass Women 🔥

I’m Sue Willoughby—Badass Midlife Strategist, life coach, and your partner in breaking rules, rewriting the script, and thriving unapologetically after 40.

This channel is for women who are DONE playing small. If you’re ready to ditch the “shoulds,” reclaim your power, and live a bold, joyful, purpose-driven life—you’re in the right place.

Each week, you’ll get real talk, raw stories, and badass strategies to help you:
✨ Smash through self-doubt and limitations
✨ Reclaim your confidence and clarity
✨ Build resilience and embrace reinvention
✨ Create a midlife that feels authentic, aligned, and f*cking powerful

This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a movement. A community of women who are tired of waiting and ready to step into their next-level life, unapologetically.

👉 Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode. Let’s rise, rebel, and reinvent midlife—together.