Today is not just another episode—it’s episode 200! I want to start by saying a big, heartfelt ‘Thank You.’ You’ve made this journey possible, and today’s episode is dedicated to you and our shared experiences.

That’s hundreds of hours of discussing fitness, nutrition, and mindset strategies designed to help women in midlife. Today, we’re flipping the script and delving into the podcast itself—its past, present, and future.

I want to share how I started my podcast, pivoted my direction, where we are now, and where the Pursue Your Spark Podcast is heading. I’ll share the results from the feedback form many of you who participated and some changes you can expect.  Let’s dive into celebrating episode 200 of the Pursue Your Spark Podcast.

Celebrating 200 Episodes of the Pursue Your Spark Podcast

Why I Created A Podcast

I was coaching men and women in my brick-and-mortar studio and found that I could only reach so many people in my boutique studio in Maryland. I wanted to reach more women and help them get healthier and stronger, but you only have one 8 a.m. slot per day and can only see one person.

So, I decided to create an online brand. Initially, it was called Clear The Clutter (very similar to the name of my very first episode), but now the name has gone through several changes, from Clear the Clutter to Menopause Game Plan to Pursue Your Spark, also the name of the podcast. 

Each time I changed my brand name, I also got clearer on who I wanted to reach and the person that would benefit the most from my 35 years of experience as a fitness, nutrition, and mindset coach, and that was the woman exactly in my phase of life – midlife! 

Memories Of My First Podcast Recording

The first episode was called Clutter Buster. I had just learned how to create a podcast. I discovered which publishing platforms and accounts I needed to publish each episode. Now it was time to create content and publish my very first episode!

I  had just moved to our new house, and I sat in the basement and went through the boxes and boxes of pictures, trinkets, and all kinds of things you collect over the years (now I’m not much of a collector, but still).

So I started recording my first episode on my phone in the basement, reminiscing about the items I was holding in my hands and the experiences I had been through with each item.

 I had to decide what I let go of and what I wanted to keep. Memories, feelings, experiences, the good, the bad, and the ugly, but it was time to let go. This was a compelling episode. You can find it on my website @heikeyates.com  if you want to check it out. Pursue Your Spark was born with that, and I loved creating content!

What Topics Would We Cover On The Show? 

I knew I wanted to talk about fitness, nutrition, and mindset strategies for women in midlife, sharing my knowledge and expertise with my listeners, but then I got lonely. So I decided that guests would be wonderful on the show and could share their expertise. I had no idea how to go about that and started to invite my friends to the show.  

My first guest, Patricia Scott, is a very accomplished Ultra Marathon runner. I was all too happy helping a friend with her story of becoming an ultrarunner. Her cute French accent was adorable. 

Next up, my friend, the late Debbie Ciardo, was a chef who made delicious meals in a food truck (we also have a video about her cooking).  

Then my friend Ida Slaughter microblading my eyebrows, and I thought, why not? Midlife women are interested in looking strong, healthy, and fabulous. You can find her at Maryland Microblanding!

Out of all the episodes, the ones that resonated the most with you were:

#196 How To Reclaim Your Health and Thrive in Midlife,

#194 Why Regular Exercise Can Be the Key to Long-Term Financial Stability,

#192 The Step-by-Step Guide to Staying Fit and Having a Healthy Postmenopause,

Guest Interviews

#181 – 4 Steps To Achieve Any Goal, No Matter Your Age/ft. Dierdre Wolownick Honnold

#158 – Why You’re Not Losing Weight After Menopause: Insulin Resistance/ Ft. Dr. Morgan Nolte

#138 The Truth Behind Cortisol and Weight Gain For Over 50’s/Ft. Cassie Christopher

How The Podcast Evolved

When I started recording episodes or invited guests, I thought about the topics that would come up during my training sessions with my in-person clients. What conversations do I have with my clients that I can turn into an episode that you – the listener – would love and even share with others?

We now have over 80,000 overall downloads and listeners worldwide, as far-reaching as Australia, New Zealand, the Philipines, Mexico, Japan, and Singapore, among many other countries. 

Over time, I honed into Pilates, Intermittent Fasting, and focusing on mindset strategies. Talking about what holds us back in midlife to thrive and lead a vibrant midlife and letting go of what no longer serves us. Finding solutions that help us women in midlife thrive. 

Why Your Feedback Matters

I love reading the encouraging comments on the Apple podcast, where listeners can rate the show. It is vitally important to get this feedback so that I can curate a show that resonates with you – the listener. Your feedback helps the show grow, and I can reach many more women in midlife and help them with their struggles. 

Survey Highlights:

Thanks to everyone who participated in the podcast feedback I sent out recently and the person who got the $50 Amazon gift card. I want to share some important survey results with you. 

1. Most of you found the Pursue Your Spark Podcast through a friend or the Apple podcast.
2. Most of you like a mix of topics, including Pilates, Nutrition, and Mindset strategies, and you told me that you prefer guest experts instead of transformational stories on the show.
3. You stopped listening to each episode around the 50% mark.
4. You enjoyed the show’s quality and me as the host (thank you), but you were not so sure about the music on the show.
5. Most of you would share the episode with family and friends.
6. The one thing most of you can’t live without is coffee!!!

Thank you for sharing topics you would like to hear more about regarding health and mindset strategies for women in midlife. You will find them in future episodes. I also loved the questions you asked me, and I’ll address all of those throughout other episodes. 

For today, I want to answer the question of Augn Hagen, our random gift card winner. She wanted to know “If I faced any challenges or obstacles in my career and how I dealt with them.”

Yes, I faced many obstacles, especially from a women’s perspective, things like equal for the same job the guys did at the gym or not getting a loan because I was a woman. 

My Biggest Life And Career Challenge

When I got divorced, life handed me a tough deck of cards. Picture this: I was pulling in just $300 a month teaching aerobics while my ex-husband was demanding alimony from me instead of the other way around! Yeah, you heard that right.

I had two little ones at home, aged 3 and 7, and the weight of how to pay rent and feed them was almost unbearable. But here’s the thing—I’ve always been a fighter. 

Thanks to a generous friend who kept inviting us over for meals (what an angel!) and my relentless search for a stable fitness job with benefits, I eventually landed a position I held for 8 years.

My son, now a dad himself, once asked me, ‘Mom, how did you do it all with nothing?’ My answer was simple: perseverance. I never gave up on what I wanted for my family, myself, and my career. 

Action Steps

As you know, I’m all about taking action, and you’ll see some subtle changes on the podcast over the coming months. Your feedback was extremely valuable. So what will I tackle?

1. You’ll see guest experts on the show sharing their knowledge to help you thrive in midlife.
2. I’ll shorten each episode so you’ll get to the end of each episode. 
3. I have also picked new music for the show, which will air very soon.
4. The content I create for the show will stay varied but strongly focused on mindset. 
5. The topics you were interested in hearing about will take front and center. 

Diversity will also take front and center so that our guests come from all backgrounds and cultures. I want to make our content so good that you’ll never want to listen to another podcast again. The Pursue Your Spark podcast will be your one-stop shop for all things midlife. Thank you for your pivotal role in filling out the feedback form. 

Pilates For Women In Midlife

I want to introduce a limited series titled Pilates for Women in Midlife to dive deep into the world of Pilates, a transformative fitness method that’s perfect for women in midlife. From its rich history to its unique benefits, we’ll explore how Pilates can be your go-to for core strength, bone density, and mental health. Whether you’re new or experienced,

 I’ll share tips for practicing Pilates at home and avoiding common mistakes. By the end, you’ll see why Pilates isn’t just an exercise; it’s a lifestyle change that can make you healthier and happier. So grab your mat and water bottle, and let’s embark on this journey to make Pilates a lifelong habit!

Thank you for being part of my and our community of strong and vibrant women in midlife ready to take action, saying: “YES, I CAN”!