Why does one song instantly calm your nervous system… while another brings you to tears? And what if you could intentionally use music to navigate stress, identity shifts, grief, and emotional overwhelm in midlife?

In this powerful and deeply practical episode, Allison sits down with board-certified music therapist Amy Entwistle to explore the science and soul behind music therapy—and how music can become a tool for emotional healing, stress relief, and spiritual connection.

Together, they unpack how music affects the brain, lowers cortisol, regulates anxiety, and helps women process life transitions such as empty nesting, caregiving, career changes, grief, and rediscovering identity. You’ll learn why music is more than entertainment—it’s a powerful form of nervous system regulation that can help you reset emotionally and reconnect with yourself and with God.

Amy also shares practical tools you can use today, including how to create intentional playlists to support your mental health, reduce overwhelm, and “soundtrack your season” with purpose.

Connect with Amy:

Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/havemercieronme/

voicestogether.org/people/amy-entwistle

Book Rec: Book of Qualities

Asheville Tourists

If you’re a midlife woman navigating change, longing for more peace, or seeking emotional wellness, this episode will give you a new understanding of the healing power of music.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What music therapy is and how it supports emotional healing
  
  
  
• How music reduces stress, anxiety, and nervous system overload
  
  
  
• Why songs are deeply connected to memory, identity, and life transitions
  
  
  
• How to use music intentionally for mental health and emotional regulation
  
  
  
• Practical ways to create playlists for stress relief, grief, confidence, and calm
  
  

This episode is for women seeking stress relief, emotional healing, nervous system regulation, faith-based encouragement, and practical tools for navigating midlife transitions with more peace and less overwhelm.

Support the show

In this episode of the More AND Less podcast, we’re talking about something so many women in midlife are craving: more calm and less chaos at home. If you’ve ever looked around your house and felt overwhelmed by clutter, unfinished projects, or rooms that no longer serve this season of your life, this conversation is for you.

Host Allison Moore sits down with professional organizer and founder of Declutter Prescription, Katina Boyd, for an honest and encouraging discussion about decluttering, simplifying, and creating spaces that actually support the life you want. Together they explore why letting go feels so emotional, how clutter often represents postponed decisions and postponed dreams, and practical steps to finally start organizing without guilt or shame.

Katina shares real-life strategies for midlife women juggling aging parents, adult kids, busy schedules, and changing priorities—including where to begin when you don’t know where to start, common organizing mistakes, budget-friendly ways to refresh your home, and simple daily habits that keep clutter from creeping back in.

This episode is about so much more than tidy closets and pretty bins—it’s about clearing mental space, improving relationships, and giving yourself permission to create a home that feels peaceful again.

If you’re ready for more peace, more clarity, and more room to breathe—and less stuff, less stress, and less overwhelm—hit play and take the first step toward a calmer, more intentional life.

You can follow Katina at the following:

• https://www.declutterrx.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/declutterrx/
• TikTok: @seasonaldecorchic
• https://www.facebook.com/katina.boyd.127844/

Support the show

What if it’s not too late to explore, dream, and say yes to adventure — even in midlife?

In this episode of More AND Less, Allison sits down with Tanya Rivera, longtime CBS news anchor and passionate traveler, to talk about how curiosity, courage, and small yeses can open the door to a more adventurous life in your 40s, 50s, and beyond. After navigating divorce, reinvention, and major life transitions, Tanya discovered that travel wasn’t just about seeing new places — it was about rediscovering herself.

Together, they talk about midlife travel, solo travel for women, overcoming fear, building confidence, and why you don’t need a life-altering moment to start something new. From practical tips for first-time or hesitant travelers to honest conversations about energy, menopause, preparation, and permission, this episode is for the woman who’s been quietly wondering, “Is there more for me?”

Whether you’re dreaming of a weekend getaway, a national park, or an international trip, this conversation will remind you that adventure doesn’t have an age limit — and courage often begins with curiosity.

Perfect for women navigating midlife transitions, reinvention, personal growth, and purposeful living.

Follow Tanya Rivera on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyariveraontv/

What do you do when your parents are aging… and their house is full of a lifetime of memories, stories, and stuff?

In this episode of More AND Less, Allison Moore sits down with estate sale expert, reseller, and longtime friend Michelle Witteveen for a heartfelt and eye-opening conversation about navigating the sandwich generation — caring for aging parents while managing your own family, home, and season of life.

Michelle brings a rare and powerful perspective: she’s not only a seasoned estate sale shopper and reseller with a trained eye for hidden treasures, she’s also walking through this season personally as a daughter helping her parents navigate a house full of meaningful belongings.

Together, Allison and Michelle explore:

• What estate sales really are — and how they work
• How to spot value (and hidden gems) in a home full of “stuff”
• Why estate sales feel like therapy… with better souvenirs
• How to gently help aging parents downsize without hurting feelings
• Why hearing the story behind items matters more than the items themselves
• Practical, compassionate steps families can take before an estate sale is ever needed

Whether you’re curious about estate sales, interested in reselling or vintage finds, or quietly wondering what lies ahead as your parents get older, this conversation will help you approach it all with more clarity, more compassion, AND a lot less overwhelm.

If you want to keep up with Michelle and follow her, you can find her on Instagram @Wood.Fileds and if you are local to North Carolina or ever find yourself passing through the triad, you can shop her fun finds @ElizabethsatHanesPark in Winston Salem or @Tinkersmithstradingco in High Point.

https://www.instagram.com/from.woodfields/

https://www.instagram.com/tinkersmithstradingco/

https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsathanespark/

Support the show

In this episode, Allison sits down with content creator Samantha Parker to unpack a raw and honest journey through alcohol dependency, identity shifts, and the quiet unraveling so many women face in midlife. From beginning her journey with alcohol at age 17 to the moment everything changed, Sam shares how sobriety reshaped her marriage, her career, her mental health, and her sense of purpose.

If you’re navigating an empty nest, burnout, anxiety, or simply wondering whether your relationship with alcohol has gone from “casual” to “comfort,” this conversation will meet you right where you are. Full of hope, faith, and practical insight, this episode offers encouragement for any woman who’s sober curious, reevaluating her habits, or longing to feel fully present in her own life again.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesamanthaparker/

https://thesamanthaparker.com/

sobriety sober curious gray area drinking alcohol-free living

alcohol recovery addiction recovery women and alcohol

sober journey alcohol dependence high-functioning alcoholic

sobriety for women

Support the show

In this enlightening conversation, Allison Moore and Ashley Madden delve into the importance of financial empowerment for women, particularly in midlife. They discuss Ashley's unique journey in the finance industry, the significance of financial literacy, and the challenges women face regarding financial planning. The conversation emphasizes the need for women to take an active role in their financial futures, understand estate planning, and utilize available resources to enhance their financial knowledge. Ashley shares practical steps for assessing one's financial situation and encourages listeners to embrace a proactive mindset towards their finances.

Instagram: Junebugcooks

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleymaddencfp/

Resources: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/money

https://www.kiplinger.com/

Midlife is a season of crossroads—especially when you’re parenting adult children and navigating life’s unexpected changes. From divorce and loss to the bittersweet freedom of an empty nest, it can feel like you’ve been handed a roadmap with no clear destination.

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Lisa Best, founder of Lisa Best Coaching, who specializes in midlife women’s coaching and guiding both young adults and the parents who love them. Together, we talk about how to handle midlife transitions, rediscover who you are after years of caring for others, and embrace the beauty of divine redirection—even when the detours are hard.

Whether you’re looking for hope for women in midlife, practical ways to start over after 50, or a reminder that your best days are still ahead, this episode is your guide to finding clarity, courage, and purpose in the second half of life. And because Lisa knows growth doesn’t have to be all serious, she’s sharing her free and fun quiz: Which 80’s Sitcom Mom Are You?

If you’ve ever whispered, “I thought life would look different by now,” this conversation will encourage your heart and remind you—you’re not starting over, you’re starting fresh.

🎧 Press play, and then share this episode with a friend who’s ready to step into her next chapter.

Resource Links:

https://www.lisabestcoaching.com/

https://www.lisabestcoaching.com/80s-mom-quiz

https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test

Follow Lisa on Instagram and Facebook at Lisa Best Coaching and Sign up for her weekly newsletter.

Moms, this one’s for you.

In this heartwarming episode, we’re talking about packing that last school lunch — that quiet but emotional milestone so many of us reach as our kids grow up and life shifts into a new season. If you’re a middle-aged mom navigating the bittersweet end of daily routines like drop-offs, packed lunches, and after-school chaos… this episode will feel like a deep breath for your soul.

We reflect on the beauty hidden in everyday motherhood, the challenges of letting go, and the deep trust it takes to watch your child step into the world. You'll hear encouragement for moms wondering, “Did I do enough?”, and joy-filled reassurance that your children will still need you — just in different ways.

This episode is a tender celebration of the evolving role of motherhood, the sacredness of the mundane, and the lasting power of showing up with love — in every season.