Midlife Strategies for Badass Women

Welcome back to another episode of Midlife Strategies for Badass Women! Today, host Sue Willoughby sits down with Marie Crews, a Certified Grief Guide, Empowerment Life Coach, and creator of The Nautilus Way.

In this deeply moving conversation, Marie opens up about her unimaginable journey of losing her mother to an unexpected heart condition in 2016, followed by the tragic loss of her 22-year-old son to suicide just a short time later. Marie shares how she naturally turned to journaling as a private, limitless space to process her profound pain and connect with her higher self when traditional systems fell short.

We dive into how Marie accidentally birthed a powerful 4-step healing framework on a porch in Mississippi, a process designed to help women get their trauma out, reframe their stories, and rewire their brains. If you’ve ever felt like you aren't a "good enough" writer to journal, or if you struggle with self-abandonment and validating your own worth, this episode will completely change your perspective.

In this episode, we cover:

• Marie's heartbreaking journey of navigating the profound impact of losing her mother and her 22-year-old son, Quentin.

• How The Artist's Way inspired her initial journaling practice, which eventually became a lifeline for processing grief and communicating with her loved ones.

• A massive misconception holding women back is the belief that they need to be naturally good at writing to benefit from journaling.

• The birth of "The Nautilus Way," a powerful process created organically during a women's retreat to help clients rewrite their limiting beliefs.

• Why validating yourself and giving yourself credit is often the most emotional step for women, yet the ultimate key to healing your identity and overcoming self-abandonment.

Chapters:
[00:00:00] Introduction and guest welcome
[00:02:00] Marie’s coaching background
[00:06:27] Son’s suicide and profound grief
[00:09:50] Journaling becomes healing space
[00:18:43] Retreats and teaching journaling
[00:26:11] Why writing helps healing
[00:29:53] Self-validation as the key
[00:36:32] Credit, motherhood, and self-story
[00:40:57] Reaching young women safely
[00:44:37] Final takeaways and offerings

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Connect with Marie and explore her upcoming women's empowerment and grief-specific retreats at https://www.mariecrews.com/

• Download Marie's Free Journal Jumpstart Guide directly from her homepage to learn how to begin your writing practice. https://checkout.mariecrews.com/journal-jumpstart-workshop/ 

• Book a free consultation call with Marie under the "Work With Me" tab on her website.
  Grab a copy of her book - "Even When...She Rose" https://a.co/d/0axywYcY 

• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/marieeurecrews 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariecrewsempowers 

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#LifeWorthBeing #Transformation #LifeCoach #Women #Empowerment #PersonalGrowth #InnerStrength #PurposefulLiving #MidlifeTransformation #Mindfulness #Mindset #SelfDiscovery #WomenEmpowerment #midlifestrategies 

🔥 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 and turn on the bell so you never miss an episode. Let’s rise, rebel, and reinvent midlife—together.