Hey, it’s Kari. I’m still new to this podcasting thing — and honestly, I’m more of a behind-the-scenes kind of person. But I know some of us would rather read than listen, or maybe just want to skim through an episode before deciding to hit play.
So if that’s you — welcome. Here’s the full transcript for Episode 1. It’s not perfect, but it’s real. And I hope it feels like a conversation with someone who gets what you’re carrying right now.
Thanks for being here.
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📝 Transcript: One Fix at a Time
Hey there.
I hope you’re doing well — or at least doing the best you can.
Even if your day’s been a bit much… I’m really glad you made time to listen to my very first podcast episode.
This is Project: Improve Me — One Fix at a Time.
A podcast for women in midlife who are juggling too much — and want life to feel a little less heavy, a little more manageable.
I’m not here to tell you how to fix your whole life.
And this isn’t a health podcast — no menopause tips or hormone talk (even though all that matters).
This is real life in midlife — for everything else we’re carrying.
I’m just someone who knows what it feels like — juggling work, family, bills, and memories…
All while wondering: Is there a better way?
And carrying that constant feeling that you’ve put yourself on the back burner for way too long.
You won’t hear me talking like I’ve got it all figured out — because I definitely don’t.
What I do have is a system I built from scratch.
A blog where I’ve been sharing the pieces.
And now — this podcast.
So we can talk about the parts of life that get messy and heavy…
And how we can start sorting them out — one fix at a time.
I didn’t set out to build a system.
I just wanted to improve a few things in my life — and maybe write about it.
No launch plan.
No perfect website.
Just a feeling… that I didn’t want to leave this life without saying a few things — in my own words.
After my grandma passed earlier this year, I kept thinking about how little I really knew about her life.
She was always smiling. Always kind. But she lived through a lot.
And now that she’s gone… I wish I had more of her story.
More than just the photos.
More than a few favorite recipes.
I wish I had her words.
And that’s when it hit me —
If something happened to me today, my grandkids would mostly know me through stories other people told about me.
Probably good ones.
But not my voice.
Not the woman I’ve become since raising their dad.
Not the person I am today.
So, I started writing.
And figuring things out as I went.
And trying to create something that would last longer than a Facebook post… something that actually helps.
This isn’t just a blog — or a podcast — to me.
It’s a way to leave behind something that matters.
Because I don’t want my ideas sitting in a folder no one ever opens.
I want to build things that actually help.
Useful tools.
Simple ideas that make life feel just a little more manageable.
If something I create helps one woman feel less alone… more prepared… or just a little lighter?
Then it was worth it.
I care about doing good work.
About helping where I can.
Right now, I work full-time as an accountant — from home.
It’s not fancy. It’s not going to make me rich.
But it helps me take care of the people I love —
like my son and his wife, my mom, and my two beautiful grandkids who light up my life (and my Echo Show while I’m working every day).
And yes — I built Project: Improve Me with the hope that, someday, it could replace that job.
Because I’ve worked hard to get here.
And I’d like to turn that effort into something that gives real value…
And helps support my family.
I won’t sell you something I wouldn’t use myself.
I don’t believe in throwing together “content” just to make a couple dollars.
This matters too much for that.
So… what is Project: Improve Me?
It’s a blog.
A growing set of tools I’ve created — and continue to build.
And now — this podcast.
Built for women like me… and probably like you.
Women in midlife who are smart, tired, thoughtful, capable, stretched thin —
and wondering how much longer we can keep pushing through like this.
You might be raising kids — or grandkids.
You might be helping your parents.
You might be living solo, partnered, divorced, widowed… or somewhere in between.
But chances are…
You’ve spent most of your life taking care of other people.
And now you’re asking…
When do I get to take care of me?
That’s what this space is for.
What’s the PIM Life Map?
I created something called the PIM Life Map —
(PIM just stands for Project: Improve Me.)
It’s a simple way to figure out what part of your life needs attention first —
without the pressure to do everything all at once.
There are three main paths based on the parts of life I think matter most:
✅ Reset — for clearing out digital and mental clutter
✅ Rebuild — for getting your money on more stable ground
✅ Reflect — for writing your stories in your own voice
Each path has blog posts, free printable worksheets, and guides with small, doable steps.
You can follow all three — or just start where you are.
There’s no right order.
No checklist to finish.
Just one. fix. at a time.
And while I talk directly to midlife women — let me say:
Even if you’re not there yet… or don’t want to admit you are…
Most of what I share applies to women of all ages.
Especially women who are tired of pretending they have it all together.
This isn’t a space for perfection.
It’s a space for steady progress — and real conversations.
You don’t need to be at rock bottom.
You don’t need to be super ambitious either.
If you’re just trying to live a little better than yesterday?
You belong here.
💬 Your Next Step
If you’re not sure where to begin, I made a free guide called the Life Map Welcome Guide.
It explains the three paths and helps you choose your starting point.
➡️ Grab the guide in the Freebie Vault
Or find it linked in the episode description.
This isn’t about changing everything.
It’s about doing one real thing that helps.
And then… maybe another.
And letting that be enough for today.
Take care of yourself today — and I’ll talk to you again soon.
