In this episode, we’re joined by Cat Merrick, founder of This Vibrant Life and a specialist in movement, breathwork and stress education. With two decades of experience in dance and teaching, ten years in yoga Cat brings a rare blend of science based insight and embodied wisdom.

Together, we explore how chronic stress shapes our bodies, our choices and our sense of self - and how simple, intentional practices can guide us back to clarity, vitality and grounded self advocacy. Cat shares how she uses her expertise in functional breathwork and coaching to help people move out of overwhelm and into a more vibrant, aligned way of living.

If you’re navigating midlife, feeling stretched thin or craving a deeper connection to your body’s intelligence, this conversation offers practical guidance, compassionate reframes and a powerful reminder that that no matter your story, your season or struggles - JOY belongs to you! .

You can connect with Cat via Instagram and Facebook

If you have resonated with any of the themes in this episode we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. You can also some love by following, subscribing or rating the show.

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⁠⁠⁠www.unfunk-yoursoul.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® ⁠ founded by Marie Shaw, a well-being practitioner, X-HAIL® Instructor and NLP Coach in training. UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® is more than a wellness brand and podcast - it's a movement rooted in mind-body practices, soulful healing and radical self-love. We create spaces for transformation whether you're navigating menopause, sobriety, midlife shifts, finding yourself after a change in your life, seeking community or simply looking to add to your well-being toolkit. Come for the CALM, Stay for the GLOW UP!

Find our next event here

You can follow Marie's personal journey to becoming her authentic true self by reading and subscribing to ⁠⁠Growing with Grace. ⁠⁠Where she reflects on life's lessons, blessings and the seasons of change as she enters her unapologetic AF ERA.

Supporting the show with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ helps sustain this community-led space, a simple way to pour back in and fuel the powerful work of amplifying women’s voices in midlife.

DISCLAIMER: the content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of this podcast. Always seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional if you are experiencing difficulties with mental health.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Maeve McAnulty, founder of The Metal Masseuse - a bold, inclusive wellness practice built for people who never felt at home in the traditional, beige world of wellness. With deep roots in aromatherapy and natural ingredients, Maeve specialises in women’s health, focusing on four essential pillars: sleep, energy, pain, and stress management.

Maeve’s mission is powerful and unapologetic: to create a wellness space where everyone fits in. With a love of heavy metal, and a grounded, no‑nonsense warmth, she brings a refreshing authenticity to an industry that often feels out of touch.

This episode is especially for women rising in midlife - women who are done seeking permission, approval or validation, and are ready to claim their next chapter on their own terms. It’s also for anyone craving a wellness space that feels real, inclusive, rebellious and deeply human.

You can connect with Maeve via Instagram and Facebook.

If you have resonated with any of the themes in this episode we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. You can also some love by following, subscribing or rating the show.

Tag UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® whenever you post on social media so we can continue to share the love.

Follow UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠www.unfunk-yoursoul.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® ⁠ founded by Marie Shaw, a well-being practitioner, X-HAIL® Instructor and NLP Coach in training. UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® is more than a wellness brand and podcast - it's a movement rooted in mind-body practices, soulful healing and radical self-love. We create spaces for transformation whether you're navigating menopause, sobriety, midlife shifts, finding yourself after a change in your life, seeking community or simply looking to add to your well-being toolkit.

Come for the CALM, Stay for the GLOW UP! Find our next event here

You can follow Marie's personal journey to becoming her authentic true self by reading and subscribing to ⁠⁠Growing with Grace. ⁠⁠Where she reflects on life's lessons, blessings and the seasons of change as she enters her unapologetic AF ERA.

Supporting the show with ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠ helps sustain this community-led space, a simple way to pour back in and fuel the powerful work of amplifying women’s voices in midlife.

DISCLAIMER: the content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of this podcast. Always seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional if you are experiencing difficulties with mental health.

In this episode, Marie reflects on turning 50 and the quiet reckoning this milestone has stirred - an inner shift that’s less about age and more about finally hearing herself clearly. She speaks openly about her relationship with her parents, how old dynamics have softened, and how this has opened a deeper well of self‑trust, acceptance and emotional clarity. What emerges is a conversation about identity, belonging and the quiet courage it takes to meet yourself honestly at midlife.

Marie explores how reaching 50 feels like a homecoming - an invitation to release inherited expectations, rewrite internal narratives and recognise the wisdom that comes from decades of lived experience. It’s a chapter marked by a steady reclamation of self. This episode holds space for the tenderness, the grief, the gratitude, the relief and the surprising freedom that comes with finally trusting yourself.

You’ll hear reflections on:

• ​How midlife can be welcomed with clarity and not confusion
• ​The shifting dynamics of parental relationships and what that means for the future
• ​Why self‑trust deepens when external validation loses its power
• ​The emotional reckoning that comes with recognising what you’ve outgrown
• ​Practical ways to honour this chapter with compassion rather than urgency

If you’re navigating your own transition - whether it’s turning 50, entering a new season of life or simply feeling the pull toward deeper self‑understanding- this episode offers a grounded, gentle space to reflect. It’s not about reinventing yourself; it’s about recognising who you’ve quietly been becoming all along and stepping into that truth with peace, acknowledgement and a renewed sense of inner authority.

If you have resonated with any of the themes in this episode we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. You can also some love by following, subscribing or rating the show.

Follow UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® on ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠www.unfunk-yoursoul.com⁠⁠⁠

⁠UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® ⁠ founded by Marie Shaw, a well-being practitioner, X-HAIL® Instructor and NLP Coach in training. UNFUNK YOUR SOUL® is more than a wellness brand - it’s a movement created to help women reconnect with their authentic selves and reclaim joy, especially during midlife transitions. It’s rooted in holistic mind-body practices and designed to support emotional, physical, and spiritual transformation in Staffordshire, UK.

Find our next event here

You can follow Marie's personal journey to becoming her authentic true self by reading and subscribing to ⁠⁠Growing with Grace. ⁠⁠Where she reflects on life's lessons, blessings and the seasons of change as she enters her unapologetic AF ERA.

If you would like to show your support for the Podcast and Marie’s work buy a virtual vegan pizza at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠. This will help to support Marie, so she can continue creating more content for you.

DISCLAIMER: the content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of this podcast. Always seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional if you are experiencing difficulties with mental health.