Shirley You Can Too

About Shirley You Can Too

Welcome to The Shirley You Can Too Podcast — the space where real conversations meet transformation. I’m Shirley Maycon-Thomas — life coach, fitness professional, sober woman, (Re)birth doula, and proof that your past does not disqualify your future. After decades of overcoming addiction, shame, self-doubt, trauma, burnout, and reinvention… I created this podcast to remind you that no matter where you’ve been, you can rise too. This podcast is for the people who know deep down they’re meant for more. The ones craving confidence, peace, purpose, healing, freedom, better health, deeper truth, and a life that actually feels good from the inside out. Expect raw and honest conversations about: personal growth confidence & self-worth healing & transformation sobriety & mindset relationships & boundaries fitness & wellness spirituality & emotional healing reinvention in midlife and what it really takes to become who you say you desire to be Some episodes will feel like a pep talk. Some will feel like a deep conversation with a friend. Some may lovingly call you forward. But every episode is here to remind you: You are not behind. You are not broken. And your story still has power. If she can do it… Shirley, you can too. 💜

Publisher

Shirley Maycon-Thomas

Category

education · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 May 2026

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Being Strong is Overrated. Just Because I Can Carry it all doesn’t mean I want to

   Being Strong is Overrated. Just Because I Can Carry it all doesn’t mean I want to Have you been the strong one for so long that no one thinks to ask how you are really doing? In Episode 16 of ShirleyYouCanToo, Shirley gets real about the weight of always holding it together and why she is rethinking what strength actually means. She talks about the messages many of us grew up with around emotions, the sneaky ways we avoid feeling, and what it could look like to give ourselves and each other more permission to be human. Watch to find out: Why being called strong is not always a compliment How busyness and distraction can keep us disconnected from ourselves The questions that can help you check in with what you actually feel If this episode speaks to you, like the video, subscribe for new episodes, and share it with someone who is always there for everyone else. Subscribe to ShirleyYouCan Too for new conversations about growth, healing, and living fully. #beingstrong #emotionalwellness #podcast #selfcare #shirleyyoucantoo

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Sometimes Plan B has bagels: Mt. Shasta taught me to pivot, stay curious & chase what feels alive

   Sometimes Plan B Has Bagels | Lessons from Mt. Shasta on Pivoting, Staying Curious & Feeling Alive Welcome back to the Shirley You Can Too podcast. In "Sometimes Plan B Has Bagels," Shirley takes you along on a weekend getaway to Mt. Shasta with her bestie Ida. What started as a simple trip to hike, eat, and relax turned into a set of small but powerful reminders about how to live with more ease, more curiosity, and more joy. If you have ever felt stuck when things did not go your way, hesitated to try something because someone else said it was not worth it, or kept putting off the things that make you feel alive, this episode is for you. Watch to the end, because the final message might change how you plan your week. Enjoyed this episode? Like the video, subscribe to the channel, and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode. Share it with a friend who could use a little encouragement today. New episodes every week. Shirley You Can Too. Because surely you can too.

3. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Who the Hell Am I Underneath All This: Remembering who you were before the roles piled up

   Title: Who the Hell Am I Underneath All This? Have you ever wondered who you are underneath all the roles you play for everyone else? In this episode of the Shirley You Can Too podcast, Shirley shares the question she keeps coming back to, the three words shaping her season, and the one she decided to change. It's honest, a little messy, and full of things you may want to hear right now. Like this video, leave a comment telling me what role you play the most, and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tags: shirley you can too, self discovery, personal growth, women over 50, midlife, boundaries, live your best life, podcas

4. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Living in the Messy Middle: Where All The Good Stuff Actually Happens

   Living in the Messy Middle: Where All The Good Stuff Actually Happens You don't need to earn the swimsuit before you get in the pool. In this episode, Shirley talks about something she's actively practicing: showing up anyway, not when it's perfect, not when she's "ready," but as she is, messy and all. A recent trip didn't go the way she'd envisioned, and what happened next says a lot about the stories we tell ourselves about who's "allowed" to participate. If you're waiting for permission to start something, a podcast, a trip, a goal, a version of your life, this episode is for you. Like, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs to hear it. #podcast #mindset #selfgrowth #confidence #realtalk

5. 

   15 Sept 2026

   All-Inclusive, Alcohol-Free & Finally Free

   For the first time, I came home from an all inclusive vacation feeling like I actually experienced the vacation instead of recovering from it, and I had to talk about it. In this episode of Shirley You Can Too: All-Inclusive, Alcohol-Free & Finally Free, I open up about what it was really like going back to one of my favorite resorts, and what shifted for me this time. It's honest, it's personal, and it might change the way you think about "unlimited" anything. If you've ever thought "I don't know if I'll ever have peace with food or alcohol," this episode is for you. Like, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs to hear it.

6. 

   8 Sept 2026

   How We Built an Unbreakable Mother-Son Bond | The Jaylen Series - Part 1

   How We Built an Unbreakable Mother-Son Bond | The Jaylen Series - Part 1 My son Jay is my first ever podcast guest. For years people have asked how we've stayed this close, and in this episode we finally get into it, together. What we cover: Growing up with two sets of parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles The courtside Lakers moment he still brings up What he wishes we'd understood about him as a kid What finally makes sense to him now that he's an adult How honesty, not perfection, built our bond This is part one of an ongoing series diving deeper into our story. Subscribe so you don't miss what's next. If Shirley can do it, surely you can too. #ShirleyYouCanToo #MotherSonRelationship #CoParenting

7. 

   1 Sept 2026

   The Comparison Game Sucks: And Here's How to Finally Win It

   In this episode of Shirley You Can Too, Shirley talks about the comparison game and why it can be a real peace killer. She shares a time when she thought designer bags and shoes would make her happy, and how she learned that collecting things didn't bring true long-term joy. She also opens up about a parenting season when her son wasn't in honors or AP classes, and how she had to check herself and remember his journey was his own. Shirley breaks down why Facebook can feel more like "Fakebook," how social media only shows pieces of people's lives, and why that can be especially misleading for young people. She closes with a reminder to stay in gratitude, protect your peace, honor your lane, and never forget that being you is enough. Timestamps and key topics covered: 00:00 Welcome and today's topic: the comparison game 00:20 Why comparison can be a peace killer 01:03 What does having it all together even mean? 01:11 The designer bag lesson 01:31 Nobody has it all together 01:43 Your own zone of genius 02:07 A parenting comparison lesson 02:56 Facebook vs "Fakebook" 03:49 Staying grounded in truth, gratitude, and purpose 04:19 Final reminder: protect your peace, honor your lane Like, subscribe, and share if this episode resonated with you. #comparisonkills #protectyourpeace #gratitudeoverguilt #beingyouisenough #shirleyyoucantoo

8. 

   25 Aug 2026

   It's Never Too Late to Take the Masks Off: One question changes everything how do you feel?

   How do you really feel? Not the "I'm fine" answer. The real one. For years, Shirley wore masks. Smiling on the outside, at war on the inside. She was taught: don't cry, don't talk about it, just keep the peace. Sound familiar? In episode 9 of Shirley You Can Too, Shirley gets brutally honest about growing up without the tools to communicate, why swallowing your truth doesn't actually keep the peace, it just delays the explosion, and how unspoken emotions can quietly show up in the most destructive ways. This isn't about blame. It's about awareness. And it's an invitation, to you, to finally ask yourself the one question that changes everything: how do you feel? 🎧 New episode is live now. Link in bio. It's never too late to take the masks off. #emotionalintelligence #mentalhealthmatters #speakyourtruth #healingjourney #podcastepisode

9. 

   19 Aug 2026

   F Around and Find Out: Don’t Believe The Hype. It’s Time to Find Out for Yourself.

   What have you ruled out in your life, not because you tried it, but because someone else did and told you it was terrible? Welcome to Episode 08 of Shirley You Can Too... F Around and Find Out: Don't Believe The Hype. It's time to find out for yourself. In this episode, Shirley unpacks "borrowed fear": the beliefs, warnings, and limitations we inherit from other people's experiences and mistake for our own. Drawing on 35 years in health, fitness, dental, and coaching, Shirley shares a simple five-question framework to help you separate real wisdom from secondhand fear, so you can make your own informed choices instead of living someone else's story. Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Borrowed Fear 02:26 Why We Adopt Other People's Limits 04:42 When the Warning Is Actually Valid 07:09 The Stories We Collect For "Why We Can't" 09:34 Letting Go of Inherited Stories You only get one life. Stop renting it out to somebody else's fear. Listen now, then go find out for yourself.

10. 

    12 Aug 2026

    Same Person, Same Mission: Your Gym Instructor, Your Hygienist, Your Coach

    What if the people who've shaped you most weren't wearing different hats at all, but doing the exact same job the whole time? On tonight's episode of Shirley You Can Too, "Same Person, Same Mission: Your Gym Instructor, Your Hygienist, Your Coach," Shirley talks about the question she's been asked more times than she can count: "What do you actually do for a living?" She never has a clean one line answer, and in this episode she finally explains why. Over 35 years, Shirley has worked as a dental hygienist, a fitness instructor, a teacher, a coach, a mentor, and now an integration and rebirth doula. Different rooms, different titles, but as she unpacks in this episode, always the same mission underneath: helping people feel safe enough to change. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction: the question Shirley never has a clean answer for 00:30 - 35 years, many titles: dental hygiene, fitness, teaching, coaching 00:57 - Dental trauma and creating safety in the chair 01:28 - Life as a fitness instructor and living in separate worlds 01:56 - The whole person: body, mind, emotions, and the stories we carry 02:25 - Decades of holding space, from dental chairs to fitness classes 02:54 - Integration and rebirth doula work: the same thing at its core 03:25 - Why Shirley pushes back on the "psychedelic doula" label 03:52 - Looking back: how each career prepared her for the next 04:22 - What coaching taught her about truly listening 04:50 - The simplest answer: what Shirley actually does 05:19 - The thread that never changed in 35 years 05:48 - Closing thoughts and thank you At the end of the day, Shirley's story isn't about having five different careers. It's about one mission that never changed, no matter what room she was standing in. If there's one thing to take from this episode, it's this: transformation isn't reserved for people with the perfect title or the perfect plan. It's available to anyone willing to feel safe enough to try. If Shirley can do it after 35 years of searching for the words, you can too.

11. 

    4 Aug 2026

    Don't Forget the Caretaker: A reminder that your needs matter just as much as theirs

    Caretaking: Why You Have to Fill Your Own Cup First In this episode of the Shirley You Can To Podcast, Shirley gets honest about what it's really like to be a caretaker, and why so many caretakers run themselves into the ground trying to care for everyone but themselves. She shares her own experience having her mom, auntie, dad, and three dogs all living under one roof at once, the moments she nearly hit her breaking point, and the daily habits that helped her stay grounded instead of getting hijacked by stress and irritability. You'll learn: Why the "oxygen mask" rule applies to caretaking, not just flying How grounding, journaling, and movement change your capacity to show up How to check in with yourself and ask "what do I need today?" Why caring for a parent can feel harder than raising your own child Why getting your loved one out of the house (even when they resist) matters How asking your parents about their life story can become one of your most treasured memories If you're a caretaker, this episode is your reminder: take care of you, so you can show up powerfully and lovingly for the people who need you. If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And subscribe for more real conversations on the Shirley You Can To Podcast.

12. 

    28 Jul 2026

    The Cost of Chasing Perfect: Perfectionism Can Quietly Become a Hiding Place...Shirley You Can Too

    How many great ideas are stuck in your head right now because you're waiting for the "perfect" time? In this episode, Shirley gets real about the three years it took her to launch this very podcast, and the fear hiding underneath all that "preparation." She shares a deeply personal story about two friends she wishes she hadn't waited to interview, and breaks down the three simple steps that finally got her out of her own way. If you've ever felt like you're not ready, not qualified, or not "there" yet, this one's for you. In this episode: Why perfectionism is really just fear in disguise The all-or-nothing mindset that keeps big ideas stuck Three steps to move from stuck to in motion Why comparing your beginning to someone else's 35 years is a losing game If you've got an idea sitting in your head right now waiting for the "right time," this is your sign. 🎧 Like, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs to hear it today.

13. 

    21 Jul 2026

    Choosing to Feel: I Quit Alcohol and my Lash Extensions...Shirley You Can Too

    Welcome to Part 1 of my Choosing to Heal series. Today I'm talking about the first layer I peeled back: putting down alcohol. And believe it or not, my lash extensions. In this milestone episode of Shirley You Can Too, I celebrate three years of living alcohol-free by sharing the real, unfiltered story of how I got there. From "weekend warrior" drinking that started in my teens and followed me into my 40s, to the moment I realized my drinking was never really about the alcohol. It was about numbing pain from bullying and trauma I didn't even know I was carrying. I walk through the final straws that pushed me to quit: a Joe Koy concert I don't remember attending, and a birthday dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant where I woke up with no memory of the night before. I also open up about a smaller but symbolically huge decision I made just five days earlier, letting go of my lash extensions, and why the two choices felt connected. This isn't a "you're doing it wrong" conversation. It's an honest, empowering look at what it takes to stop numbing, face what's underneath, and finally show up as the leader (and person) I want to be. If you're sober curious, in recovery, or just curious about someone else's journey, this one's for you. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I keep peeling back the layers.

14. 

    14 Jul 2026

    Powerhouse: Shirley You Can Too

    Who saw your potential before you did? In this new episode of Shirley You Can Too: Powerhouse, Shirley opens up about the people who believed in her during a season when she was struggling, making mistakes, and couldn't yet see the woman she was becoming. Their belief became the catalyst that changed the entire direction of her life. This episode is a powerful reminder: your past doesn't define your future, your setbacks don't determine your worth, and sometimes all it takes is one person who sees the greatness in you before you're ready to see it yourself. 🎧 Now streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Listen now and send this to someone who needs to hear they're more powerful than they realize. Connect with Shirley: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Instagram & YouTube: Shirley You Can Too

15. 

    7 Jul 2026

    Holding The Vision: Shirley You Can Too

    What if the thing you didn't get is the reason everything worked out beyond your wildest imagination? In this episode of Shirley You Can Too, Shirley shares the story of the moment her carefully laid plans fell apart..and how that disappointment turned out to be one of the biggest blessings of her life. Twenty-one years ago, Shirley was set on a specific timeline to get into dental hygiene school. When she struggled in a required science class, her instructor refused to pass her and told her to withdraw. Shirley was devastated and felt her entire plan had unraveled. Rather than staying stuck in frustration, Shirley made the choice to surrender and trust that something better was on its way. She retook the class at a different college, and that single pivot changed the course of her life..leading her to lifelong friendships, her first home, and even her first family dog. In this episode, Shirley unpacks what it means to hold the vision and not the circumstances, how to practice non-attachment when life doesn't go as planned, and why the detour might actually be leading you exactly where you need to go. Listen in if you've ever felt thrown off course and wondered whether you were still headed in the right direction. Connect with Shirley: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Instagram & YouTube: Shirley You Can Too

16. 

    18 May 2026

    If She Can Do It… Shirley You Can Too

    Shirley Maycon-Thomas shares her journey and mission to inspire others through her podcast, 'Shirley You Can Too.' She discusses her personal growth, overcoming self-doubt, and the importance of taking action. Her authenticity and positivity shine through as she encourages listeners to embrace their potential and start their journey. Takeaways Authenticity and positivity are key to inspiring others Overcoming self-doubt and taking action are essential for personal growth Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Inspiration 05:27 Overcoming Self-Doubt Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/21-on-the-block/brighter-tomorrow (https://uppbeat.io/t/21-on-the-block/brighter-tomorrow) License code: IZ9IXSFFDBIAX8CO

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings