What does it take to sustain a 38-year creative partnership — and friendship — through divorce, death, partnership, relocation, and countless life transformations? Margaret Crane and Barbara Ballinger, co-authors of Not Dead Yet, Suddenly Single After 50, and Kitchen Conversations, as well as lifelessonsat50plus.com, share their unfiltered insights on collaborative writing, making new friends in your 70s, navigating adult children, and why they both refuse to remarry.

From Barbara's 350 internet dates (yes, she kept a spreadsheet) to Margaret's move from St. Louis, MO to NYC, these women prove that life after 50 is about risk-taking, reinvention, and refusing to play by outdated rules. They discuss aging without apology, cutting toxic friendships, why sex gets better with age, and the surprising freedom that comes from putting yourself first.

Whether you're navigating an empty nest, contemplating a major life change, or simply trying to maintain friendships as you age, this conversation offers wisdom, humor, and the kind of candor that only comes from decades of lived experience.

Episode recorded January 20, 2026. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com

Ever dreamed of picking up and moving to Europe? Angela Hanyak actually did it—and she's sharing everything she learned along the way.

Angela takes us through her journey from Charleston, South Carolina to Frankfurt, Germany. But this isn't your typical "I sold everything and became a digital nomad" story. Angela moved abroad with her corporate job, navigated the complexities of German healthcare, and discovered she feels more settled in Europe than she ever did in the States.

Angela also offers insider travel advice and detailed European travel itineraries through her blog Notes from Europe.

Whether you're considering a move abroad, planning extended European travel, or just curious about expat life, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and inspiring stories.

Recorded on 10.28.25. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com

Fashion designer Andrea Moore Beaulieu had a literal dream that told her to open a store. Weeks later, she did—and The Makers NY in Larchmont was born. Now, less than two years later, she presented her designs during Paris Fashion Week, and her clothing has been seen in Vogue and other fashion magazines.

In this episode, Andrea shares how she sews every garment herself while raising three kids (including twins), why her store hours match her children's school schedule, and how she's redefining slow fashion with radical transparency. From working with deadstock fabrics to turning a mother's wedding dress into her daughter's rehearsal dinner outfit, Andrea proves that integrating work and family creates space for both creativity and presence.

Recorded at the LMC Media Podcast Studio in Mamaroneck, NY on December 10, 2025. Show notes available at thebalancedilemma.com/episode-97