In this episode of Midlife Unmuted™, we’re asking: What does it really take to grow an online community that matters—without becoming just another face lost in the algorithm?

Tanya sits down with Paul Gowder, founder of powwows.com, to talk consistency, community, and sharing culture through live video in a way that actually feels good (and real). If you’ve ever wondered if it’s “too late” to reinvent yourself or scale your side passion into something bigger, this is a conversation you’ll want to hear.

Paul shares how he built a thriving digital community from a personal passion, navigated the leap from IT to full-time creator, and continues to grow powwows.com while staying true to his values—and his audience.

Timestamps
(00:00) Welcoming Paul Gowder & Midlife Unmuted’s mission
(04:34) The origin story of powwows.com
(13:35) The power of showing up as yourself online
(14:03) Why email is the backbone of community (and how Paul uses it)
(26:54) Bridging personal and professional life with purpose
(34:04) Advice for building visibility and taking bold steps later in life

It’s never too late to start, grow, or put yourself out there—just keep taking the next step and lead with purpose, and your community will find you.

online community, midlife entrepreneurship, powwows.com, content creation, live streaming, email marketing, community building

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I market my business in a way that actually feels good?” you’ll want to pull up a chair for this one. Host Tanya Smith sits down with M. Shannon Hernandez to break down how to create lead magnets that actually bring in ready-to-buy clients, why it matters to know your “Level 5 Buyer,” and how to infuse joy (yes, real joy!) into your marketing so it genuinely fits your life and business now.

Marketing strategist M. Shannon Hernandez joins Tanya Smith to share how midlife creators can design lead magnets for buyers who are truly ready to work with you—and why joy is the best secret for on-camera confidence and sustainable business growth.

Midlife Unmuted™ is a limited-series video podcast from Stream Like a Boss TV, hosted by video strategist Tanya Smith. This 10-episode collection spotlights bold, service-driven entrepreneurs and creators over 40 who are showing up, speaking out, and building visible businesses on their own terms. We launch episode 1 on Monday, June 9th with

Through candid conversations and practical insights, each episode explores how midlife creators are using livestreams, video podcasts, and content strategy to grow with purpose—without burnout, overwhelm, or trend-chasing.

Marketing mentor Ed Troxell joins Tanya to share simple, stress-free strategies for growing your business with video—without chasing trends or losing yourself in the process.

In this episode of Midlife Unmuted, we dig into a familiar question: Is putting yourself “out there” with video really worth it if you’re not chasing viral views?

Tanya Smith sits down with marketing mentor Ed Troxell to unpack the real impact of showing up on-camera—especially for midlife entrepreneurs who’d rather skip the tech overwhelm and keep things simple. Whether you’re camera-shy or just tired of the content hustle, this conversation is full of quick wins and refreshing perspective on building visibility without burning out.

Timestamps
00:00 Introducing Ed Troxell and the heart behind Midlife Unmuted
02:23 Ed's journey from magazine founder to marketing mentor
04:09 Tackling tech overwhelm with pen, paper, and a plan
07:51 Why video can help you unmute yourself (and get bold)
09:56 Ed’s go-to method for creating videos without burnout
13:33 Getting past the comparison trap and embracing your unique style
17:03 Using real life to make relatable content
20:40 Ed’s favorite time-saving tech tool for business
22:17 Behind the scenes of Ed’s marketing audit
23:38 How video helped Ed step out and create new opportunities
25:18 Key takeaways on building visibility one step at a time

video marketing, midlife entrepreneurs, confidence on camera, content creation, tech overwhelm, sustainable business, personal branding, visibility, real estate marketing, marketing strategies

Success with video isn’t about keeping up with trends or being perfect—it’s about taking small steps, showing up as yourself, and giving yourself permission to grow on your own terms.