Podcast
Blueprint Breakers
Hosted by Amy A. Palmer · EN
Join us as we celebrate midlife women and beyond, with a special spotlight on the lifestyle "blueprint breakers": those who are living a life outside the "typical", "traditional" societal norm. Connect with this growing community and access experts across all areas of life who will focus on our unique needs: health, finances, caregiving, retirement, menopause, socialization, travel, dating, sex, family and more.
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Smart Women Still Struggle With Weight Loss
2w ago00:43:00Tap to summarizeWhy does weight loss feel so hard, especially for smart, capable women who already know what they “should” be doing?In this episode of Blueprint Breakers, Amy sits down with certified life coach and author Lizzie Merritt to explore the deeper psychological and nervous system patterns behind emotional eating, stress, motivation, and midlife weight struggles.Lizzie shares insights from her new book, LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss, including why shame and perfectionism keep women stuck, how nervous system safety impacts our choices, and why curiosity is far more effective than willpower.This conversation also explores:Why motivation disappears under stressThe connection between fight-or-flight and foodEmotional eating and nervous system regulationThe LIGHT framework for sustainable changeWhy tiny steps matter more than perfectionMidlife burnout and self-compassionThoughts on GLP-1 medicationsReframing “failure” as data and learningThis is an empowering, compassionate conversation for women who are tired of blaming themselves and ready for a healthier, more sustainable approach.About Lizzie MerrittLizzie Merritt is a certified life coach who helps people stop blaming themselves for why weight loss has felt so hard. She is the author of You Are a Miracle and LIGHT: The New Psychology of Weight Loss, where she combines humor, compassion, and practical brain science to help readers lose weight without turning their lives upside down. Lizzie is a military spouse, Marvel movie nerd, and enthusiastic crier at cheesy commercials. She believes curiosity works better than willpower and will always choose science over shame.Connect with Lizzie: https://confidentbody.coach/About Amy A. PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Connect with Amy: amypalmer.bio
Transcribe →From Playing Small to Speaking Up in Midlife
Apr 1400:34:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Blueprint Breakers, Amy A. Palmer sits down with Lisa Jones, host of The Leadership Story podcast and a recognized expert in business continuity and resilience. With over 20 years of experience helping organizations navigate disruption, Lisa shares how her personal story mirrors the very work she does professionally.Raised in a family of strong, independent women, Lisa internalized both the expectation to be self-sufficient and the pressure to stay quiet and “not cause waves.” She followed parts of the traditional blueprint… but like many women, found herself navigating career uncertainty, burnout, and a lack of intentional direction.This conversation explores how Lisa began to question long-held patterns, move beyond people-pleasing, and step into a more intentional, self-led chapter of life, including launching her own podcast and reclaiming her voice.About Lisa JonesLisa Jones is the host of The Leadership Story podcast, where she highlights conversations with resilient women leaders and explores authentic career growth and leadership through challenge. With over 20 years of experience in business continuity and resilience, she has led global teams and helped organizations navigate crisis and uncertainty. Named DRI International’s 2025 Consultant of the Year, Lisa brings deep expertise in strategic planning and leadership development, and is passionate about helping women recognize their lived experiences as powerful assets in shaping confident, authentic leadership.About Amy A. PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Connect with Amy: amypalmer.bioJoin the Blueprint Breakers Insiders Network: Community.BlueprintBreakers.com
Transcribe →From Burnout to Bali: How Nichole Designed Her Freedom Life
Apr 700:47:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I’m sitting down with Nichole Knight—and honestly, this is one of those conversations that stayed with me long after we hit stop.Nichole spent over 20 years working in corporate finance, managing wealth for ultra high net worth families. She did everything right. Built the career. Made the money. Created the stability.And then… her body forced her to stop.What followed was burnout, a sabbatical, a one-way ticket to Bali…and a complete reimagining of her life.Today, she’s living what she calls her “Freedom Life,” and helping other women understand that financial freedom isn’t just for the wealthy; it’s something we can intentionally build, if we’re willing to look at our numbers and rethink what we’ve been taught.We talk about money, burnout, freedom, and the kind of life many of us don’t realize we’re allowed to want.About Nichole KnightNichole Knight is a former corporate finance executive who spent over two decades managing wealth for ultra high net worth families before a burnout diagnosis in 2022 led her to completely reevaluate her life. What began as a sabbatical turned into a bold decision to walk away from her career and design what she now calls her “Freedom Life”—a location-independent lifestyle rooted in choice, ease, and alignment. Today, as a Money Mindset and Transition Coach and founder of the Freedom Chaser Club, Nichole helps women move from financial fear to financial freedom by shifting their relationship with money, building a solid financial foundation, and redefining what success truly looks like on their own terms.Connect with Nichole on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamnicholeknight/featuredAbout Amy A. PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Connect with Amy: amypalmer.bioJoin the Blueprint Breakers Insiders Network: Community.BlueprintBreakers.com
Transcribe →100 Episodes Later: What I Know Now About Midlife Freedom
Mar 3100:28:25Tap to summarize100 episodes.I can’t quite believe I’m saying that.In this solo episode, I’m taking a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate what this journey has really been about—not just the podcast, but everything that has come with it.I’m sharing why I started this podcast in the first place, what I’ve learned about you (and me), and how this entire experience has reshaped how I think about work, rest, success, and what’s actually possible in midlife.If you’ve ever felt like the traditional path doesn’t quite fit… this episode is for you.About Amy A. PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Amy's Instagram: @amypalmer.todayJoin the Blueprint Breakers Insiders Network: Community.BlueprintBreakers.com
Transcribe →Rethinking Relationships in Midlife: A Conversation About Polyamory
Mar 1700:44:39Tap to summarizeOne of the things I love most about this podcast is getting to hear perspectives that are very different from my own. Sometimes those conversations are inspiring, sometimes surprising, and sometimes they challenge assumptions we didn’t even realize we were carrying.Today’s conversation is one of those.We’re talking about ethical non-monogamy in midlife—a topic that can feel unfamiliar or even a little uncomfortable for some people. But rather than approaching it with judgment or sensationalism, I wanted to approach it with curiosity. Because when we hear how other people design their lives and relationships, we often learn something meaningful about honesty, autonomy, and connection.My guest today is Tracie Guy-Decker.Tracie is a podcaster, writer, illustrator, and mom based in Baltimore, Maryland. She co-hosts the podcast Deep Thoughts About Stupid Sht* with her sister and is launching a blog and memoir project called Hot Flash of Genius, where she shares the challenges, joys, and insights of ethical non-monogamy in midlife.In this conversation, Tracie shares how she found herself exploring this lifestyle later in life, what ethical non-monogamy actually means, and what it requires in terms of communication, honesty, and self-awareness.Whether this topic feels relatable to you or completely outside your experience, I think you’ll find this conversation fascinating.About Tracie Guy-DeckerTracie Guy-Decker is a podcaster, writer, illustrator and mom based in Baltimore, Maryland. She is co-host, with her sister, of the podcast Deep Thoughts About Stupid Sh*t, and is launching a blog and memoir project entitled Hot Flash of Genius, to share the challenges, joys, and insights of ethical non-monogamy in midlife. Through all of her work, Tracie endeavors to make the world a bit more meaningful, a bit more compassionate, and a lot more fun. You can find her at tracieguydecker.com About Amy PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Amy's Instagram: @amypalmer.todayWays to work with me: https://amypalmer.bio
Transcribe →Redefining Friendship in Midlife
Feb 1700:48:27Tap to summarizeFriendship in midlife is different.And I don’t think any of us were prepared for that.In this episode, I brought three incredible women back to the mic, Tori, Trilby, and Carole, for my very first Blueprint Breakers roundtable conversation. And we dove into something I see women talking about constantly online: Friendship.Why does it feel harder now?Why do some friendships quietly fade?Why does it sometimes feel like we’re the only ones making the effort?And how do we actually build meaningful connection at this stage of life?About Tori WestminsterTori is a 5-star thriller author who has spent the last 6 years of her writing journey building other writers up through social media, groups, and, more recently, through Bunker Squirrel Magazine and Patreon. These were not strategies meant to drive revenue, but avenues to build community. Tori believes that writing in isolation does not produce good books and is not good for the soul. So, creating a safe space for writers was only logical. https://www.tcwestminster.com/#/About Trilby Johnson – Breakthrough SavvyWhen nothing you know works any more, Trilby Johnson — the Energy Architect — guides midlife Gen X women through pivotal internal shifts to gain unique clarity, self-trust, and autonomy, so they no longer feel frustrated or at the mercy of circumstances and design their own personal toolkit for living life fully on their terms.Drawing on decades of integrative holistic therapies, corporate experience, extensive studies in cognitive and alternative modalities, and her own personal evolution, she brings deep insight and practical wisdom to her work. She is also the author of Fearlessly Alone – Finding You Happy No Matter What, among other titles. To connect with Trilby: https://linktr.ee/fearlesslymeAbout Carole RosenblatCarole Rosenblat is a traveler, writer, journalist, tour company owner, and speaker. Two things all of these have in common are travel and female empowerment. She traveled around the world without a plan for her blog, Drop Me Anywhere, where readers voted to choose the destinations. She left to explore them within two weeks (sometimes a day) following the voting results. As a result of overwhelming feedback, especially from women over 40, Carole opened Drop Me Anywhere Tours for Women. Website: https://dropmeanywhere.com/About Amy PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Amy's Instagram: @amypalmer.todayJoin our Community: https://linktr.ee/amypalmer.today
Transcribe →One Woman. Two Suitcases. Absolutely No Plan.
Feb 1000:37:39Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you stop waiting for “someday” and start saying yes to the unknown?In this episode of Blueprint Breakers, Amy Palmer sits down with traveler, writer, and entrepreneur Carole Rosenblat to explore what it really looks like to walk away from a life that no longer fits, and build something entirely your own.Carole shares her journey from a predictable, “safe” career path into a life defined by movement, curiosity, and reinvention. After being told in her mid-40s that her age limited her future in the travel industry, she made a bold pivot: launching Drop Me Anywhere, a reader-driven travel experiment where the internet chose her destinations and she left within two weeks ~ no plan required.That single leap opened the door to a nomadic lifestyle, international writing opportunities, speaking engagements, and eventually a women-only tour company designed to empower women (especially those over 40) to travel confidently and independently.This is a conversation about courage, choice, and the freedom that comes from trusting yourself, even when the path ahead isn’t clear.About Carole RosenblatCarole Rosenblat is a traveler, writer, journalist, tour company owner, and speaker. Two things all of these have in common are travel and female empowerment. She traveled around the world without a plan for her blog, Drop Me Anywhere, where readers voted to choose the destinations. She left to explore them within two weeks (sometimes a day) following the voting results. As a result of overwhelming feedback, especially from women over 40, Carole opened Drop Me Anywhere Tours for Women. She’s worked in most aspects of travel and tourism throughout her life, including onboard cruise ships, in hotels, managing logistics of corporate meetings and events around the world, and as a camping/adventure tour guide, a mid-range tour guide, and a high-end international tour manager.She’s a journalist published in National Geographic, CNN Travel + Leisure, The Daily Beast, Thrillist, MSN, Tripadvisor, Afar, and Atlas Obscura, among others, and is a freelance copywriter and content writer for small companies and larger corporations. She’s also a serial volunteer around the world.Carole is also an international speaker on subjects including female empowerment, working in travel and tourism, solo female travel, overcoming obstacles, and volunteering.She’s visited 73 countries…so far.Website: https://dropmeanywhere.com/About Amy PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Amy's Instagram: @amypalmer.todayJoin our Community: https://linktr.ee/amypalmer.today
Transcribe →When Your Body Changes the Plan, Not the Purpose
Feb 200:35:17Tap to summarizeWhat if creativity wasn’t just self-expression—but survival?In this deeply moving episode of Blueprint Breakers, I’m joined by thriller author and community builder Tori Westminster, whose writing journey began not at a desk—but in a dark room, during six weeks of unrelenting migraine pain.Tori shares how she mentally “wrote” her first novel while unable to see, move, or function normally—and how that act of imagination became the thing that carried her through one of the hardest periods of her life.But this conversation goes far beyond writing.We talk about:Living with chronic illness and adapting to a body that changes dailyLetting go of the life you thought you’d have—and choosing meaning anywayWhy writing (and creativity) isn’t meant to be done in isolationHow community can be built without hustle, algorithms, or self-promotionThe origin of Bunker Squirrel Magazine and why it centers connection over egoChoosing contribution, even when capacity looks different than it used toTori’s newest project, Conversations with Pain, amplifying voices of those living with chronic illness and disabilityThis episode is an honest, compassionate look at what it means to keep contributing, creating, and connecting—even when the traditional blueprint no longer applies.About Tori WestminsterTori is a 5-star thriller author who has spent the last 6 years of her writing journey building other writers up through social media, groups, and, more recently, through Bunker Squirrel Magazine and Patreon. These were not strategies meant to drive revenue, but avenues to build community. Tori believes that writing in isolation does not produce good books and is not good for the soul. So, creating a safe space for writers was only logical.Among other publications slated for 2026, by popular demand, she will release a 3-month goal journal designed specifically for writers in January of 2026. She will incorporate accountability groups and will coach them through their goals one quarter at a time. Throughout 2026, she will be collecting stories from the chronically ill and disabled—spoonies—to give voice to those who go unnoticed and misunderstood. As a spoonie herself, this is a passion project. https://www.tcwestminster.com/#/About Amy PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Amy's Instagram: @amypalmer.todayJoin our Community: https://linktr.ee/amypalmer.today
Transcribe →Recalibrating Your Energy in Midlife
Jan 2700:36:18Tap to summarizeWhat happens when the life you were promised never shows up, even after you followed every rule?In this episode of Blueprint Breakers, I sit down with Trilby Johnson, known as The Energy Architect, to explore what many Gen X women experience in midlife: the quiet collapse of old stories, the rise of loneliness, and the moment when self-help, hustle, and “doing the work” stop working.Trilby shares her own Blueprint Breaker story: growing up hyper-vigilant, deeply sensitive, and feeling fundamentally different, and how those early survival strategies shaped her adult life, relationships, and health. We talk about how the body holds truth long before the mind catches up, why loneliness isn’t something to fix, and how energy recalibration helps women reconnect with their own internal authority.This conversation isn’t about self-improvement. It’s about self-recognition.About Trilby Johnson – Breakthrough SavvyWhen nothing you know works any more, Trilby Johnson — the Energy Architect — guides midlife Gen X women through pivotal internal shifts to gain unique clarity, self-trust, and autonomy, so they no longer feel frustrated or at the mercy of circumstances and design their own personal toolkit for living life fully on their terms.Drawing on decades of integrative holistic therapies, corporate experience, extensive studies in cognitive and alternative modalities, and her own personal evolution, she brings deep insight and practical wisdom to her work. She is also the author of Fearlessly Alone – Finding You Happy No Matter What, among other titles. To connect with Trilby: https://linktr.ee/fearlesslymeAbout Amy PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Amy's Instagram: @amypalmer.todayJoin our Community: https://linktr.ee/amypalmer.today
Transcribe →Why Diets Fail Women Over 40
Dec 1600:33:34Tap to summarizeIn today’s episode of Blueprint Breakers, I’m joined by Debbie Harris, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Hypnotist, author, and founder of Maynestreet Weight Loss, for a deeply honest conversation about why dieting truly does suck for women over 40, and what actually works instead.Debbie shares her personal journey as a lifelong dieter who hit a wall during menopause, struggling not just with weight but with inflammation, bloating, hormone imbalance, and eventually an estrogen-based breast cancer diagnosis. That experience became a turning point, one that led her to completely rethink diet culture, food rules, and the way women are taught to relate to their bodies.We talk about:Why weight loss becomes harder during perimenopause and menopause—and why it’s not your faultHow hormones, cortisol, sleep, and stress all impact weight and inflammationBreaking free from food guilt and perfectionismWhat an 80/20 lifestyle really looks like (and why it’s more sustainable)Why support and accountability matter just as much as informationHow to define your “why” without shame—even if it starts out feeling shallowLearning to stop comparing yourself to other women and tune into what works for your bodyCreating peace with food instead of fear, rules, or restrictionDebbie also talks about her book, Dieting Sucks for Women Over 40, which includes a practical, food-based program (no drugs), self-hypnosis tools, journaling prompts, and guidance for balancing hormones and maintaining weight loss long-term. She shares why community is such a core part of the process and how her Balanced Warrior membership provides ongoing support, accountability, and encouragement for women navigating this phase of life.This episode is compassionate, empowering, and refreshingly real. If you’ve ever felt like your body betrayed you—or like you’re doing everything “right” and still not seeing results—I hope this conversation helps you feel less alone and more hopeful.You can find Dieting Sucks for Women Over 40 on Amazon and learn more about Debbie’s work, free resources, and community at 30toLife.org. https://30tolife.org/About Amy PalmerAs host and facilitator for the Blueprint Breaker podcast, Amy is dedicated to expanding and amplifying the voices of women over 45 who are living a “non-traditional” lifestyle. She believes there is more than one way to do life and we all deserve to be seen, heard, understood and represented.After a lifelong struggle with feeling “outside” the societal norm and longing to live up to perceived expectations, pardon Amy’s French as she says fuck the blueprint! She has found peace, acceptance, and joy as she embarks on the next era of her life as a digital nomadic entrepreneur.Amy was formerly a senior corporate executive, a nationally recognized sales and operations expert, an award-winning actress, a resident of 13 different US cities, and a prize-winning DC blogger. Amy has a vast network of friends and colleagues with whom she enjoys travel and adventures and a close family including six niblings (nieces & nephews), the loves of her life!Amy's Instagram: @amypalmer.todayJoin the Blueprint Breakers Insiders Network: Community.BlueprintBreakers.com
Transcribe →