EducationSelf-Improvement

Your Next Chapter

Your Next Chapter with Sharri Harmel

Your Next Chapter is your weekly dose of inspiration and practical wisdom for creating a life that feels exciting and authentic—especially in midlife and beyond. Host Sharri Harmel, coach, writer, and believer in reinvention, shares candid conversations and actionable strategies to help you embrace change with confidence. Whether you’re exploring a new career, reigniting a passion, or simply living more boldly, you’ll feel supported and inspired. Your past has shaped you, but it doesn’t define you—this is your time to write your next chapter.

Get the details for my new book: Design Your Fabulous Next Chapter at www.sharriharmel.com

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23 episodes
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English

Episodes 23

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#309
Monday · 5 min
What If You Got a Real Letter From Me Every Month?
I'm introducing The Paper Salon, a brand-new monthly snail-mail subscription designed to bring real, tangible connection back to your physical mailbox. Each envelope delivers a personally written, hand-signed letter, a collectible book recommendation, and a seasonal recipe card meant to be enjoyed slowly. Enrollment is capped at just 50 founding members for our inaugural mailing on November 1st. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Join the Paper Salon: https://buy.stripe.com/7sY9AT5st2Mjgy0dkG63K00 Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#308
September 28 · 5 min
Why I’m Bringing Back Snail Mail in 2026
Modern communication is faster than ever, yet genuine personal connection often gets lost in the digital noise. In this episode, I share why I am bringing back handwritten letters and introducing a new concept called The Paper Salon. Join me as I discuss the intentionality of paper mail and how to claim one of the first 50 founding memberships. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#307
September 14 · 22 min
The Invisible Work of Creating a Beautiful Life
This episode challenges the misconception that beauty is frivolous by exploring how it is actually a vital, quiet labor that defines our lives. I discuss my journey of creating a studio in my historic Minnesota home and argue that beauty is not mere decoration, but an essential part of living. We also dive into the launch of The Paper Salon, a new monthly experience for my community. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#306
August 17 · 31 min
I Thought I Wanted England... I Was Wrong
In this episode, I share a personal epiphany about a long-held dream of moving to England. I explain how my trip through the Cotswolds shifted my perspective on what my dreams were actually revealing about my growth. Finally, I invite you to reconsider your own dreams and what they might be teaching you about your next chapter. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#305
August 3 · 19 min
Only a Few Things Impress Me Anymore...These Are Them.
True richness in life rarely comes from the most expensive items, but rather from the small daily discoveries that quietly elevate our routines. In this episode, I share a curation of the specific skincare, books, and wellness elements currently brightening my season. Plus, I give a sneak peek into a new experiment I am still testing out before fully recommending. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#304
July 20 · 12 min
I Thought I Was Choosing Dinner Guests... I Was Choosing My Future
A simple question about dream dinner guests leads to a profound realization about personal growth and the qualities we wish to carry into our next chapter. In this episode, I introduce the six historical and unexpected people I would invite to my table. Join me as we explore curiosity, courage, beauty, and the quiet choices that shape the person we are still becoming. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#303
July 13 · 10 min
Summer Is Like Christmas... Except It Lasts Three Months.
Stop waiting for a picture-perfect fantasy and learn how a simple change in perspective can transform your entire season. This week, we dive into the realities of loneliness, anticipation, and the power of participating fully in the life you already have. Discover why a truly memorable summer has nothing to do with what you own and everything to do with how you engage with the present. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#302
July 6 · 21 min
Paris Taught Me Beauty. London Taught Me How to Live.
Discover why the ultimate destination of travel isn't a landmark, but a completely new perspective on daily life. After years of living between Paris and London, Sharri reveals seven profound cultural shifts that challenge how we dress, think, and structure our days. Tune in to find out how to stop merely sightseeing and start intentionally building the culture of your next chapter. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#301
June 29 · 13 min
Queen Elizabeth Knew Something Most Women Learn Too Late.
In this episode, I reflect on a powerful truth I discovered while visiting a fashion exhibition at Buckingham Palace. While Queen Elizabeth's style evolved across decades, her core identity remained entirely unmistakable. Join me as I unpack why the ultimate goal of aging isn't constant reinvention, but rather becoming more fully who you already are. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#300
June 22 · 18 min
I Thought Life Would Get Easier by Now.
In this episode, I dive into the unexpected realities of midlife that many women face instead of the freedom they envisioned. We look at the evolving emotional responsibilities of handling adult children, grandchildren, and aging parents all at once. Discover why finding your footing in this chapter requires creating a completely new rhythm for yourself. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#299
June 15 · 19 min
What the Chelsea Flower Show Taught Me… and One Awful Hotel Room
A long-awaited bucket list trip to the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show sparks an unexpected realization about how our physical environments impact us. Balancing the immense beauty of English gardens with the stark contrast of a truly terrible hotel room, this episode explores what elements truly nourish or quietly drain our creative energy. Tune in to discover why dreaming up new, beautiful future chapters might be exactly what your soul needs next. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#298
June 8 · 20 min
The Small Beautiful Things Keeping Me Sane Right Now.
Redefining midlife doesn't require blowing up your entire life with dramatic changes. In this episode, I share the small, everyday pleasures—from antique porcelain to a bizarre florist trick—that are doing more for my mental health than standard self-help advice. Discover how asking yourself what makes life feel lovely to live can completely change your perspective on your next chapter. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#297
June 1 · 13 min
I Thought This Was Just an Errand… Until It Changed How I See My Life
After stepping into a local library for a simple errand, I walked out with a profound, unexpected realization about life and personal growth. This episode explores why pushing harder rarely brings clarity when you are too close to your own daily noise to see things objectively. Discover how changing your environment and stepping out of your routine is the exact catalyst you need to unlock your next big breakthrough. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#296
May 25 · 10 min
I Didn’t Expect Divorce to Feel Like This
Divorce recovery is often much harder and more isolating than women anticipate. After a 23-year marriage and a brutal legal battle, I discovered that freedom felt more like fear and disconnect than pure excitement. In this episode, I break down the crucial mistakes I made starting over, how loneliness affects our choices, and the life-changing lesson from Paris that unlocked my healing. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#295
May 18 · 6 min
I Didn’t Belong Anywhere… Until I Finally Stopped Trying
I used to believe my problem was not belonging anywhere, but I discovered the real change happened when I stopped trying to fix it. This personal journey is for you if you've ever felt the pressure to measure up or find your place. Join me as I discuss how letting go of the need to belong creates space for a fabulous next chapter. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#294
May 11 · 5 min
Over 60 but Don't Want to Move Near the Kids?
Sharri shares her struggle with living away from where her family needs her most and the difficulty of admitting that feeling. She feels torn between the beloved life and home she has created and the strong draw to relocate closer to her family. In this episode, she discusses her personal decision to prioritize herself in her "second act" while remaining deeply involved with her family, hoping to inspire listeners to find fulfillment for both themselves and their loved ones. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#293
May 4 · 19 min
I Was Packing for the Wrong Woman (After 50)
I'm revisiting my lifetime of packing tricks and realizing I was packing for the wrong woman after turning 50. This video shares my new minimalist packing strategies, specifically for women over 50 who want to travel light without compromising style. More broadly, this shift reflects the necessary trial and error of life past 50: figuring out what to retain and what to release. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#292
April 27 · 10 min
I Designed the “Perfect” Life… Then Everything Felt Off
Midlife is a complex transition for women over 50, often requiring them to design their next chapter. I share my personal journey and the realization that the perfect life is achieved through experimenting, not overthinking. Discover the biggest mistake I made and how living experiences is the real path to clarity. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#291
April 20 · 30 min
I Almost Didn’t Go to This NYC Retreat… I’m So Glad I Did
I almost skipped my NYC retreat, but a voice told me I needed to get out of my comfort zone, just like I wrote about in Design Your Fabulous Next Chapter. I share my journey on the Amtrak, the highlights from the Women's Wax Seal Retreat, and my reflections on the entire experience. It was a powerful lesson in pushing past reluctance, and I'm so grateful I went. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter
#290
April 13 · 29 min
Why Your Hair Stops Working After 50 (And What Actually Helps)
The reality is that hair, whether curly, straight, or dyed, undergoes a change after 50, which often leads to increased hair issues. This episode explores the reasons behind these natural changes and emphasizes that small adjustments can make a big difference. I also share the simple care routines that form the foundation of healthy hair and reveal my secret tools for after-50 hair. //Join us on Substack! Join Substack to continue the conversation: https://sharriharmel.substack.com/ Website: https://sharriharmel.com/ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/sharriyournextchapter

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