In this episode of Seasoned & Seen, Dr. LaTara Venise sits down with Charmaine LaFondé, a creative writer, author, speaker, founder of The LaFondé Experience, LLC—and a woman who, at 70, says she is experiencing a freedom, clarity, and confidence she didn’t have in her 50s.

But that freedom has a story.

A Christ follower and grief survivor, Charmaine’s writing journey began after the devastating loss of her son, Curtis. Her search for answers led to her first book, Who Killed My Son—A Mother’s Wait for Justice, and her journey through grief would eventually shape books including From Grief to Gratitude and Wisdom Speaks From Within: An Invitation to Pause and Reflect.

In this deeply personal conversation, Charmaine shares how loss transformed her faith, how she learned to “camp out” on the promises of God, and how her understanding of purpose has changed as she has grown older.

LaTara and Charmaine explore the difference between purpose and assignment, the courage it takes to release relationships that no longer bring peace, and what can happen when we stop looking outside ourselves for the next thing we’re supposed to do and become quiet enough to listen to what God may already be saying within.

Today, through her writing, speaking, Pathway to Peace community, and service with Mending Hearts Ministry, Charmaine encourages grieving mothers and women discovering fresh purpose later in life to find peace, recognize their worth, and pursue their calling at every age.

And she is living that message herself.

At 70, Charmaine wants women to know that purpose doesn’t expire with age. Joy can return after loss. And your best days can still be ahead of you.

Her invitation is beautifully simple:

Pause.

Listen.

Make room for what God is saying within.

Because you are seasoned.

You are seen.

And you are still becoming.

Connect with Charmaine:

Facebook: @IAmCharmaineLaFonde

Instagram: @LaFonde56

Website: CharmaineLafonde.com

In this personal episode, LaTara shares the unexpected joy this podcast has brought her, what she’s learning from the conversations so far, and why she’s learning to delight in beginnings instead of rushing them.

She also introduces her new free guide, 7 Conversations Every Woman Over 50 Needs to Have, created to help women explore the questions that often become more important in this season of life: Who am I now? What has changed? What do I want? What am I ready to release? What does my body need? What do love and connection look like now? And who am I still becoming?

Most importantly, LaTara shares what she believes God is revealing through this journey: Seasoned & Seen may have started as a podcast, but it is becoming something much bigger. It's becoming a space for women over 50 to be honored, seen, heard, and fully alive.

Plus, get a glimpse of what’s still ahead as Season One continues with upcoming conversations with Charmaine and Tanya.

If you’ve been listening from the beginning—or you’re just discovering Seasoned & Seen—this episode is an invitation to celebrate what has already begun and make room for what is still becoming.

Because you are not done. You are becoming.

Ready for the conversations you need to have with God, self, and others? Grab your free copy of the 7 Conversations Every Woman Over 50 Needs to Have Guide. Leave me a comment once you have downloaded yours.

In Episode 8 of Seasoned & Seen, Dr. LaTara Venise sits down with global award-winning executive leader, author, and AI strategist Dr. Tia Murry for a conversation about leadership, transformation, the power of our stories, and what it means to navigate changing seasons without losing ourselves in the process.

With more than 23 years of experience spanning social services, government, education, nonprofit, and tribal sectors, Dr. Murry has built a career around people, leadership, and organizational transformation. Today, as Founder of FLI, LLC and an International Certified AI Professional, she helps executives and organizations navigate one of the biggest shifts of our time: integrating artificial intelligence into the workplace while keeping human judgment, connection, and responsible leadership at the center.

But her work goes beyond boardrooms and technology.

Dr. Murry is an international keynote speaker who has shared stages across the UAE, Africa, and the United States, speaking on leadership, women’s empowerment, and organizational transformation. She is also a published author who believes that the stories we carry shape both how we lead and how we love. Her books include The Turnover Tax: The Leadership Fix No One Talks About and the children’s book My Best Friend, Butter.

Her work has earned recognition including the Women in Management Africa Award, the Women of Distinction Award, and the 100 Global Further Builders 2026 Award.

This is a conversation about more than accomplishments. It’s about the woman behind them, the wisdom gained along the way, and what happens when experience, innovation, purpose, and humanity meet.

Because being seasoned doesn’t mean we stop evolving.

It means we have even more wisdom to bring with us as we do.

You are not done. You are becoming.

In this deeply moving conversation, LaTara sits down with author, coach, and founder of Reclaim and Live, Della, to explore a remarkable journey of resilience, healing, and rediscovering identity after unimaginable loss.

Within just a few months, Della experienced the loss of her marriage, her health, and her mother. She spent nearly two decades living with end-stage renal disease, endured a failed kidney transplant, and ultimately received a second transplant—affectionately named "Destiny"—in October 2025. Yet through every setback, God was writing a greater story.

Together, LaTara and Della unpack what it means to heal from rejection, childhood trauma, chronic illness, divorce, and the relentless pursuit of external validation. They discuss the freedom that comes from seeking God's approval above all else, learning to trust your own voice, and embracing the beauty found in life's scars.

This conversation is especially powerful for women over 50 who are navigating new beginnings, rediscovering their purpose, or wondering if God still has something significant ahead. Della reminds us that our greatest seasons of impact often begin after we've survived our hardest chapters.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to reclaim your identity after loss and disappointment.
• Why healing is essential before pursuing your next season.
• The freedom found in releasing the need for others' approval.
• How God can transform pain into purpose.
• Why it's never too late to begin again and live victoriously.

If you've ever questioned your worth, wrestled with rejection, or wondered whether your best years are behind you, this conversation will remind you that your story is far from over.

Your scars are not signs of defeat—they are evidence that God has sustained you. And sometimes, the very things that nearly broke you become the testimony that helps someone else reclaim their life.

In this powerful episode of Seasoned & Seen, LaTara welcomes strategist, consultant, and lifelong learner Tonya Raines for an honest conversation about Kingdom abundance, personal transformation, and the beauty of becoming after 50.

Tonya believes life after 50 can be brave, spacious, and deeply purposeful. Through her work with Impact Hatchery, she helps mission-driven leaders build stronger organizations while courageously writing her own next chapter with faith, clarity, service, and the conviction that growth never has an expiration date.

Together, LaTara and Tonya explore what it means to live from a place of abundance rooted in God's love rather than striving. They discuss the importance of rest, creating emotional and mental capacity, and releasing old versions of ourselves so we can steward the opportunities God is placing before us.

Tonya also shares the unexpected revelation that shifted the timeline for her dream of developing a retreat center and how she's learning to trust daily obedience instead of trying to map out every step. LaTara reflects on her own journey of discovering that obedience—not perfect planning—is what creates the pathway for God's vision to unfold.

The conversation also turns toward the importance of creating safe spaces for women over 50 to be honest, vulnerable, and fully seen. Together, they discuss why healing often comes before building, how internal transformation changes everything around us, and why surrender is one of the greatest invitations to a life of true abundance.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• What Kingdom abundance really looks like.
• Why capacity matters as much as calling.
• The relationship between rest, surrender, and growth.
• How daily obedience positions you for God's greater vision.
• Why women over 50 need spaces where they can heal, grow, and become.
• The freedom that comes from releasing who you were to embrace who you're becoming.

If you've been sensing that God is expanding your capacity, inviting you into a new season, or asking you to trust Him more deeply than ever before, this conversation will encourage your heart and remind you that it's never too late to become everything He created you to be.

Because after 50, the story isn't ending—it's unfolding in beautiful new ways.

What if turning 50 isn't the beginning of the end—but the beginning of your greatest chapter?

In this special Seasoned & Seen panel discussion, LaTara brings together three incredible women—Della Major, Dori Staehle, and Tonya Raines—for an honest, faith-filled conversation about life after 50. Together, they challenge outdated narratives about aging and share how this season has become one of purpose, freedom, healing, and possibility.

Each panelist describes her current season with one powerful word:

• Della: Winning Season
• Dori: Rhythm and Flow
• Tonya: Fullness

Throughout the conversation, they reflect on who they were at 25, what shifted when they turned 50, and how life has become richer through experience, resilience, and trusting God. They discuss redefining identity beyond changing roles, overcoming personal hardships, embracing reinvention, and discovering that purpose doesn't have an expiration date.

You'll hear inspiring conversations about:

• Why turning 50 is a threshold—not a finish line.
• The difference between your identity and the roles you play.
• Healing after divorce, health challenges, and life-changing setbacks.
• Reinventing yourself after unexpected transitions.
• Finding freedom, confidence, and joy in this season of life.
• Why women over 50 are uniquely positioned to mentor, lead, and thrive.

The panel also shares a heartfelt lightning round filled with wisdom, encouragement, and practical advice for women approaching 50, reminding listeners that the best chapters of life may still be ahead.

Whether you're approaching 50, already living it, or simply looking for encouragement to embrace your next season with faith and confidence, this conversation will leave you inspired to stop surviving—and start thriving.

Be sure to listen to each panelist's individual episode on the Seasoned & Seen podcast for even more wisdom and practical insights!

Connect with Our Panelists

Della Major

CEO & Lead Life Coach, Reclaim and LYVE LLC

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachDellaMaeMajor

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachdellamajor

Dori Staehle

Owner, Next Stage Drumming, LLC | Certified Drum Therapist

🌐 Website: https://www.nextstagedrumming.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NextStageDrumming

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doristaehlemba

Tonya Raines

Strategist, Consultant & Founder of Impact Hatchery

🌐 Website: https://www.impacthatchery.com

#SeasonedAndSeen #WomenOver50 #LifeAfter50 ##ThriveAfter50

What happens when life transitions, faith, entrepreneurship, and healing all come together through rhythm?

In this episode, LaTara sits down with Dori Staehle, owner of Next Stage Drumming, LLC and the only Certified Drum Therapist in North Carolina. Through customized, evidence-based drumming programs, Dori helps children and adults discover their rhythm so they can confidently step into the next stage of their lives.

Dori shares her powerful story of navigating major life transitions, including downsizing, moving into a new season of life, discovering new creative passions, and embracing the joy of being closer to her grandchildren. Together, she and LaTara explore the wisdom that comes with age, the beauty of new beginnings, and the importance of sharing our stories across generations.

The conversation dives into Dori’s journey into drum therapy, from playing percussion in her church worship band to developing innovative programs for neurodivergent children and adults, including those with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and stress. Dori offers a refreshing perspective, describing ADHD as “a delightful dreamer” and autism as “a special design.”

Dori also opens up about her own remarkable healing journey after surviving a severe accident and neurological condition. She shares how drumming became a pathway to recovery and ultimately inspired the healing work she now provides to others through her practice.

You'll also hear:

• A powerful success story of a student who improved from struggling academically to earning straight A’s through drum therapy.
• Lessons on trusting God's timing instead of forcing outcomes.
• The realities of entrepreneurship after 50 and the importance of authentic community.
• Encouragement for anyone wondering if they’ve missed their purpose or calling.

Dori reminds us that purpose doesn't have an expiration date and that sometimes our greatest opportunities arrive in unexpected seasons.

After 28 years in North Carolina with her husband Mark, two grown children, and three grandchildren, Dori continues to serve as a speaker, coach, consultant, author, and worship band percussionist while helping others discover their own divine rhythm.

Connect with Dori:

🌐 Next Stage Drumming Website

📘 Facebook – Next Stage Drumming

💼 LinkedIn – Dori Staehle, MBA

#Podcast #WomenOver50 #LifeTransitions

As women move through different seasons of life, the roles, responsibilities, and identities we've carried can begin to shift. Children grow up, careers evolve, relationships change, dreams transform, and sometimes the woman we've always known ourselves to be no longer feels like a perfect fit.

In this heartfelt solo episode, Dr. LaTara Venise explores the journey of rediscovering yourself when life transitions leave you questioning your identity. Together, we'll unpack the difference between our assignments and our identity, why grief is often a necessary part of growth, and how to embrace the woman God is calling you to become in this season.

This conversation is an invitation to release outdated versions of yourself, reconnect with your values, and find peace in the process of becoming.

If you've been feeling stretched, reflective, or in the middle of a transition, this episode will remind you that you are not lost—you are evolving.

In This Episode:

• Why life transitions often trigger identity questions
• The difference between who you are and what you do
• How grief can be part of personal growth
• Reintroducing yourself to yourself with honesty and curiosity
• Learning to move from wisdom instead of striving
• Embracing the season God has you in right now

Reflection Question:

Who is God inviting you to become in this season?

If this episode resonates with you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman who may need this conversation.

Seasoned & Seen™ is a podcast where women navigate life's transitions with wisdom, courage, and grace—because every season deserves to be seen, honored, and embraced.

Honor your season. Trust what is unfolding. Because you are becoming. — Dr. LaTara Venise

In this powerful conversation, Shawana "Shaysses" Phillips joins host Dr. LaTara Venise for an honest discussion about navigating life's unexpected transitions, finding strength in difficult seasons, and learning how to trust the process of becoming.

Together, they explore what it means to move through challenges without losing yourself, how resilience is developed in real life, and why some of our greatest lessons emerge from the moments we never would have chosen for ourselves.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Navigating major life transitions with courage and faith
• The hidden gifts found in difficult seasons
• Building resilience when life feels uncertain
• Letting go of who you were to embrace who you are becoming
• The role of faith, wisdom, and perseverance in personal growth
• Why your story is still being written

This conversation is a reminder that growth is not always graceful, healing is not always linear, and becoming often requires us to walk through seasons we don't fully understand.

But on the other side of those seasons, there is wisdom, strength, and a deeper understanding of who you are.

Because sometimes the fire doesn't come to destroy you—it comes to reveal you.

Enjoyed this episode?

Follow, subscribe, and leave a review. Share this conversation with someone who may be walking through a season of transition and needs the reminder that growth is still happening, even when it feels hard.

Seasoned & Seen™ — Honoring the wisdom of where you've been while embracing who you're becoming.

In this inaugural episode of the Seasoned & Seen™ Podcast, host Dr. LaTara Venise welcomes you into a conversation created especially for women who know that life after 50 is not about fading away. It's about becoming more fully who they were created to be.

Dr. LaTara shares her own journey through seasons of success, loss, reinvention, healing, leadership, motherhood, faith, and rediscovery. With honesty, wisdom, and warmth, she explores what it means to navigate life's transitions while remaining rooted in identity, purpose, and possibility.

In this episode, Dr. LaTara discusses:

• Why getting older is not the end of your story
• The difference between aging and becoming
• What it means to live a life that is both seasoned and seen
• How wisdom, healing, and self-awareness create new opportunities for growth
• Why this season of life may be your most meaningful yet

Whether you're navigating change, rediscovering yourself, pursuing a new dream, or simply wondering what comes next, this conversation will remind you that you are not behind, overlooked, or finished.

You are becoming.

Because life isn't winding down. It's deepening.

Enjoyed this episode?

Be sure to follow, subscribe, and leave a review. Share this episode with a woman who needs the reminder that her story is still unfolding.

Join the conversation and connect with our growing community of women who are embracing life, purpose, and possibility in every season. If you would like to discuss this episode or others, join the Seasoned and Seen Collective.

Seasoned & Seen™ — You Are Not Done. You Are Becoming.