Carrie Olver: Visibility, Style & Owning Midlife - Episode 319

What happens when you stop trying to look "good for your age" and start living like you're allowed to take up space?

I sit down with Carrie Olver — one of Canada's most recognized on-air TV personalities and broadcast veterans — for a refreshingly honest conversation about visibility, confidence, reinvention, and what it really means to own your midlife era with style and intention.

We get into what it's like to age on camera in an industry that often treats women like they have an expiry date — and why that narrative is finally starting to shift. Carrie opens up about what public criticism felt like earlier in her career, how social media bullying shows up differently today, and the mindset work that helps her let most of it roll off without losing herself in the process.

We talk about the pressure women face to constantly explain or justify their appearance, their choices, and their bodies — and what it looks like to stop doing that. Whether you're navigating your own reinvention, stepping more fully into who you are, or simply trying to feel confident and visible in a world that doesn't always make space for women over 40, this conversation will meet you where you are.

We also go deeper into the wellness side of midlife — clearing physical clutter and mental clutter, letting go of outdated success markers, and what it feels like to find real flow state when you're fully present in your own life. If you've been feeling stuck, overstretched, or like something needs to shift, you'll find a lot in this episode to sit with.

Plus, Carrie shares the story behind Carry O — her made-in-Canada fashion line created specifically for changing bodies. Relaxed but tailored, functional but beautiful — essentials designed to make you feel like yourself again, at every size and every stage. 👉 Shop Carry O at TSC: https://www.tsc.ca/products/brand/carrie-o?srsltid=AfmBOoo-JfD4DWtPClWZKQH8bYT1q63Kgeob-8eAvNwpxh9zohgYLnKb

If this episode resonated, please share it with a friend who's navigating midlife — it truly makes a difference. Subscribe wherever you listen, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify with your biggest takeaway, and help this conversation reach the women who need it most.

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Transcript

Meet Carrie Olver And The Theme

Sandy Kruse 0:24

Hi everyone, it's me, Sandy Kruse. Welcome to Sandy K Nutrition Health and Lifestyle Queen. For many years now, I've been a trusted voice for people in midlife and beyond who want a deeper, more honest conversation about wellness. One that includes the physical, the emotional, the mental, and the esoteric. Most episodes are solo now because I want to bring you thoughtful research, lived experience, and grounded insight without noise or bias. And when I do bring on a guest, it's because their work genuinely adds something meaningful to the conversation. Here we explore the full spectrum of what it means to be well, how the body functions, how the mind heals, how the spirit expands, and how all of these layers shape life lived with clarity and joy. Thanks for being here. And if this show resonates with you, please follow rate, review, and share it. It truly helps the message reach more people. Hi everyone, welcome to Sandy K Nutrition Health and Lifestyle Queen. Today I have a guest, and I haven't had a guest for a while. And I most of you who have been following me for a while know I've gotten very selective about topics and things that I really feel I my audience will engage with. And I actually have somebody who's an amazing Canadian woman today. And her name is Carrie Olver. And she's one of Canada's most recognizable on-air personalities, known for her decades hosting TSC, today's shopping choice, and her earlier work with the Weather Network. Her warmth, presence, and ability to connect with viewers made her a staple in Canadian broadcasting. And she's built a loyal following through her beauty, her fashion, and lifestyle segments on TSC, where women really trust her honesty, her humor, her deep product knowledge, and her relatability. And now she's 59 years old and she's entering a vibrant new chapter with the launch of her clothing line. And it's called Carry O, right? I think it's called Carrie o. And it's created Carryo. It's created for women who want style, confidence, and ease at every stage of life. And Carrie continues to inspire women across Canada by showing what it looks like to stay visible, creative, and powerful on your own terms through all the stages in your life. So today we are going to talk about a lot of things that are going to inspire women at our age, about what it means for women to live fully expressed, visible, unapologetic at every stage of our life. We refuse to shrink, we refuse to dim our light, and we embrace reinvention at all stages of life. And Carrie and I met back in December last year. I was guest hosting and she was the host. And I was like, something really connected me to Carrie. I loved her energy. Most of you know I'm big on energy. And then all of a sudden, I see she's come out with this clothing line. And I'm like, I gotta talk to this woman. So with that, welcome, Carrie. Thank you so much for coming.

Speaker 1 4:27

Oh, thank you, my dear. And it was such a pleasure meeting you. When you came in, I was feeling the same connection. And it's not an easy place for people just to jump in, you know, going on air like that. And, you know, sort of three, two, one, here you go. And you just were so honest and compassionate and authentic to the viewers. And, you know, that really resonated. And I know you would only do products that you believe in. So that was really what impressed me as well. And not that, you know, most people don't do that, but it's this true authenticity. Like I would never, you know, I would never talk about something that I wouldn't personally recommend.

How She Got Into Live TV

Sandy Kruse 5:11

Yeah. I I mean, thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. And, you know, I I also see your excitement about a lot of the products that you do, but we have to go to your story because the fact is you've got longevity. Most of you who follow me, you know, I'm all about aging better. I'm all about, you know, reinventing yourself. And somehow you've been in this industry for a very long time. How did you even get started?

Speaker 1 5:39

Oh my gosh. Yeah, I mean, it was sort of accidental, um, as most things are, I think, at that age, you know, when you're in, unless you're you're setting out to be uh a doctor, a lawyer, you know, taking that that um that route in school and so on. I was around it and grew up around television. Um, my father was in television, and I would spend the weekends with him, and we would end up at CFTO when we were just um in the makeup chair or in the studio. And so I sort of just grew up around it. And I uh a good cousin of mine had gotten a job doing something else in television, and she eventually landed at the shopping channel, and she had said to me when I was around 20, she said, and I was doing real estate and not knowing exactly what I wanted to do, and and she had said, Why don't you come in for an audition? And I came in, and I really think because I grew up around studios and such, that it wasn't intimidating for me, and I felt pretty comfortable in that because I think, and I'm a terrible auditioner, first and foremost, uh, later in life when I was trying to do, you know, other kind of maybe acting gigs, and I'm so not an actor, so um that did not work out, but I felt just really confident and comfortable, you know, in that environment. And when they said, okay, talk about this, and the first thing they said was, talk about this. Um, what was it, a string or a pen? I think it was both. And it was it, if you can talk about this for uh, you know, for five minutes, you know, you you've got the job. And and I did, and it was such an amazing experience to be your first job going live and just non-scripted for hours, like a few hours. And so it was um, it was a lot of fun, and I think it was just the naivete as well, like going, really, I didn't really realize the undertaking of that. So it was, and that was it, you know, started there and went down to the states for a little while and realized that wasn't that wasn't me.

Sandy Kruse 7:54

Are are you connected to uh QVC or HSN? Are they also connected?

Aging On Camera Without Expiring

Speaker 1 7:59

Yes, well, HSN and TSC had a connection many, many years ago. Uh, and then that dropped off. So that was probably over 30 years ago, but I would go down and guest on HSN uh often. And so that was so I had a relationship with people down there, and you know, there isn't a lot of us who sort of do this job. People would come up and guest that are hosts or former hosts from there, so you just you create these relationships, yeah.

Sandy Kruse 10:06

There's definitely a community. I mean, uh I met quite a few of you, and there's there's a lot of you who have been in that space for a very long time, and I'm gonna I'm gonna actually say that.

Criticism, Bullying, And Thick Skin

Speaker 1 10:18

Here's what I actually love is that there is no such thing as ageism, and I love that you you've got saying power, and I mean because you you know, if it was in any sort of, I mean, you know, yes, I was at the weather network for years, um, and I did um I did another another show for for three seasons about spas and going around the world to different spas called spectacular spas. And so, and I was doing other things and to age in those areas, there there unfortunately really feels like an an expiry on that. But for this job, it is the best place to age for women in television because you uh this is our audience that that 4550 plus, and it's such a a wealth of of support for and and and connection of women, aging women, that it just turned out to be absolutely amazing. I mean, I think I'm just starting to come into my own at 59.

Sandy Kruse 11:27

Well, you know what's amazing too is I had a lot of girlfriends, so who are having who were having children, you know, 30 to 35 and TSC. Like, so like I'm saying, like, that was kind of the thing to do when you're up feeding a baby all at late at night, turn on TSC. And so even younger women, I I think tune in. I know that you guys have your core audience, but I had girlfriends who were watching it much earlier.

Speaker 1 11:55

We were we're the kind of networks, and I say we because um it was sort of a thing, and I was talking about this with my girlfriend who's on the weather network still, Kim McDonald. And we were just, and she's my one of my very close besties, and we were talking about these are two networks that you just keep on, like their background noise, their background, like I still have a um a voiceover for the locals on the weather network, you know, people still think I'm connected to it, and and so there's an incredible familiarity that starts to happen, and you become a part of people's families in a way, you know, not to be presumptuous, it's just that you're just sort of noise in the background.

Sandy Kruse 12:39

No, it's true, it's true. Now, you've been in front of people for a very long time, and what has taught you about being seen or misunderstood or even criticized? Because this is the thing, Carrie. I I am a very sensitive individual. And when, you know, when I feel like I'm being criticized in this space or something that I talk about, I'm like, I'm just out here doing my best.

Speaker 1 13:10

Yeah, like how to get there then. You gotta get there because it's um, you know, uh when you're younger, it's I've I maybe you just don't have the the tools to deal with it, but it it is it it's it's a stab, you know. You really feel that uh when people like God knows, like if there was social media when I was in my 20s and 30s, and how people bully, you know, because I'll still I get bullied on occasion on social media, people will have negative or nasty comments, and now being in my shoes now, handling it, uh, is I'm a duck, it rolls off my back, you know. I mean, I I feel more I feel for them like the sadness, like, oh my gosh, how awful is that to be you. But at the time, I mean, when you would hear something or people, people always had comments on my hair. Oh my God, it was you could never, because I liked big hair, um, and you could never ever make any make everybody happy. So everybody had a comment. And what I found really interesting was that you know, people when you were out grocery store or whatever, really felt like they were entitled to an opinion about that, and they would say that to you, you know, go, well, I preferred you like this, or I liked you better like that, or something, you know, uh, or or oh my gosh, have you you've lost a lot of weight, or it and these are strangers that felt very entitled to to comment, and it's it's pretty interesting. And now I just sort of, you know, go, well, lovely to meet you, glad you're watching, you know.

Competition, Trust, And Staying Prepared

Sandy Kruse 14:54

I love that you do that because you know, I actually I actually recorded a podcast about this because when you're in the space, this public space, you can sometimes be almost like this target for other people's triggers. Yes, right? Oh yeah. So so once you see that and you see that it's not you, it's you know, their stuff that they need to deal with, then you can respond that way. And I love that you said that.

Speaker 1 15:28

But there is there are some there are moments where you you're like, is what they're saying valid, you know, and like, like I've got to reflect on that a little bit, or you know, maybe like, and then you do feel a little insecure about it. So I'm not gonna completely, you know, say it's a hundred percent that it's oh, I'm a doc. But mostly, but maybe there are uh a few moments where you kind of say, hmm, okay, maybe, and then if you can manage to give it its due and then just let it go, right? Depending on where it comes from and who it comes from, but you know, can constructive criticism is amazing, right? I mean, it's helpful, but it all depends on the vein in which it's it's offered.

Sandy Kruse 16:16

I agree, but that's constructive criticism, it could be from a colleague that knows you or right, so versus blanket, you know, criticisms, they're very different, I think.

Speaker 1 16:28

So I just feel for the I feel so much for the women, you know, and men who who have to go through coming up in this with social media, like oh I know it it's it's it's not an easy world.

Sandy Kruse 16:44

I mean, back in the day when we were kids, it was very different. You dealt with your issues face-on, and then they were done, and it was over, whereas social media it can live on and on and on and on, and it's from complete strangers too.

Speaker 1 16:58

So that makes it very easy to hide behind something, right?

Sandy Kruse 17:03

100%. Yeah. So you've spent decades in this very, you know, women-heavy competitive industry, because I think this is also an important piece. So, you know, what did that environment teach you about yourself and about women in general? Because I I do believe that you know, there's always going to be relationships that provide support, and then there's relationships that do not. So, what did you learn in this very competitive industry that you're in? Well, everyone's trying to climb the ladder, right?

Choosing An Authentic Path Over Hype

Speaker 1 17:45

I mean, so it it it you you you get burned a few times and then you learn, right? Then you learn who to trust and you learn to, you know, to maybe I I'm a very I'm I'm a really open book. I I mean that's on the air. Sometimes I get to the point where I feel like I'm in my own living room and you know, you're sitting there talking to yourself for three or four hours. I mean, you know, how guarded can you be, right? But uh I I've been I've been very lucky to garner some good support and and women who have uh, you know, don't have a real agenda in that regard, who are supportive. But I've certainly come across, you know, women who have to try to get ahead, you you know, used you in a particular way or set you up to fail. And I don't know, I think that happens to you know to to a lot of people in any industry, right? Um but you have to really learn from it, like you have to see those moments, learn from it. Women, um, women can be very difficult. I mean, I found the male relationships younger, um, uh a little bit more supportive. And that I don't know, who knows? That's the male-female dynamic or whatever it is, but we were, you know, so many of us were vying for that same job, right? Or we were really going after the same thing and all in that same category, and you know, you're the brunette or you're the blonde, or we have too many brunettes, and it's you know, and so all of that sort of thing came up. And my sort of remedy to that was I always came prepared, so it didn't matter if like I I really felt confident that I was doing the best that I could do. So it's all you know, always be prepared, as cheesy as that sounds. So I couldn't let them crush me in that sort of way, and then of course it it sort of came, you know, looks and all of that. I mean, you're working in television and you know, too fat, too skinny, too this, too that. And I always thought, well, if I if I learned the material, what else can I do? Right. Yeah, you can't change who you are. You get burned a few times. I mean, at this age, it's so nice because I don't feel that competitiveness. And I'm so happy I don't have that competitiveness anymore, you know, and that's just that's just years and years of doing what I've been doing. And I mean, I'm not going after uh, you know, a CNN anchor job or anything like that. Like it's I feel like I want to more mentor and help younger women that are coming up in this business if they want my help, right? And and and and that really is an amazing feeling. And I wish there were there were a few women like that, but I wish there were more women like that for me when I was that age.

Sandy Kruse 20:56

Yeah, I can I can see that. I can see all of what you're saying because you know, even in the podcasting world, it's like who's getting the biggest guest? Who's getting the biggest topics? Who's getting right? And so I like like you, I kind of I started off that way, and you know, I was getting all these big guests, and I'm like, no, I'm I'm going solo because I I don't want to be in it just for the guest. I don't want to be, I'm gonna forge my own path. That's the best way to describe it. I'm doing what feels really good to me, and it seems like that's what you're doing. I don't want to mean to force that on you, but like when you kind of do that, you might come across certain personalities or something that's maybe not serving you, but at the same time, if you keep going on a path that's authentic and true to yourself, you'll get there.

Speaker 1 21:59

Well, you know, Toronto's a small place, and so you know, there was the same people, um, you know, with the more visible jobs, and it was, I was thinking, okay, maybe I'll try to go after those jobs that are, you know, on air, maybe in entertainment or this or that. And and and I didn't want to go to all the parties, like I really didn't. Like I was, I I I had this agent and this PR person who said, you know, you're being a very bad client. Because like I'm an introvert extrovert, so I am a little bit more of a homebody, and I mean, my gosh, I have chickens, like I, you know, that that's more me. And it was like I found out very quickly because I was like, okay, well, why am I not getting this job or that job, you know? And it was, well, you have to go out and market yourself, like you really have to go out and be seen at places and and go to those parties and do this and get that invitation and be on that list or be on that red carpet or whatever it was in the city. And and honest to God, I just found it too exhausting. And I really am so happy where I landed because I would take live television any day of the week and doing what I do. I mean, you know, I'm not sitting there curing cancer, but I'll tell you, it's uh uh I've learned more about a million different things than uh, you know, I would have ever been exposed to. I mean, these are people's stories, their passions. Like when they come on with a product, they're coming on with a, you know, the story about how they got there and you know, everything they gave up to get there. And it was an idea, and to see that evolution, I mean, that's pretty infectious stuff. So, you know, I like I say, I was a homebody. I didn't want to go fight for it, you know, in the in that way. I mean, I fought for it, you know, in a different way.

Sandy Kruse 24:01

Yeah, you're like, you're my soul sister because I'm the same. I'm like, you know, uh, what was it? What was a term I was getting? I was given a term once, like for social engagements. I was called a backer outer because I'd be like, I just I don't want to go to that party. I just like it, you know, like I do, I do socialize. I do like I'm not a hermit or anything, but I'm just more of a homebody. I'm definitely more on that side. So I can relate for sure.

Speaker 1 24:32

Well, plus too, I mean, I I really give a lot of energy at work. Like, you know, when you go and and you're doing four hours live, and there's a lot of personalities going on, and there's a lot of intensity, and you've got all these different guests who have a lot riding it, a lot on the line. I mean, they're there to sell and to make money and to create a business, a successful business. Uh, it's it's pretty intense. So the the amount of decompressing, I kind of feel that's necessary for me, was becoming more and more important.

Menopause Talk Without Shame

Sandy Kruse 25:10

I love that you said that because I realized that myself. Like I was there for like one day, it was like 12 hours, and you have to be very on, right? You you're you can't you can't just sit back and go, I'm gonna just let these next five minutes just coast. You have to be on, you have to be on for the brand because you're you're representing the brand and you want to do your best for them. So being on is like it's it's just like when I'm when I'm in doing this podcast recording, I have to be focused and on for this hour because I want to do my best for you to make sure that we're having an engaging conversation, yeah.

Speaker 1 25:56

Like I'm yeah, exactly. And I mean, I'm there to lift them up and to shine light on them. And I think the more confident you become, the the easier that is to do. Uh, because you in in in that confidence, um that's I think the authenticity starts to happen, right? Like I'm not trying to vie for the spotlight or trying to, no, no, it's about me. No, no, it's not about me. It's that's this is what it's about. It's about the customer, it's about the shopper, it's about the the person who wants to find out every single little thing, you know, about whatever it is, or uh the story behind it. So I I really put myself in the position of the consumer, right? I just I want to know as much as the consumer wants to know. But I've seen what it's like to start a brand. I know what it's like to start a brand and to put everything into it. And it's not easy. And the last thing that you want is, you know, people to phone it in, you know. Oh, I didn't run that video, or I didn't do that, or I didn't ask that question. I mean, you only have so many minutes, and then those minutes get cut. If it doesn't do well, I mean, you're not sticking around. That's why when brands have been there for 30 years, I mean, it's a big deal.

Weight Loss, Privacy, And Public Judgment

Sandy Kruse 27:17

Let's let's shift gears to these transitions and being on camera. Because that I think this is really important, and we kind of touched on this offline, just about how women traditionally, Carrie, have had to hide certain things that they're going through, like menopause, like transition. Nobody's gonna go online and be like, okay, I actually I could tell you this story. Once I was lecturing in Boston and no, it was it was Miami, it was when I was really involved in the biohacking, and I was on stage and I was moderating a panel with doctors, it was a really important subject. I had literally the most major hot flash. My face, I could feel it burning, and there's an audience, this is life. And I called it out. I said, I'm in the middle of a really big hot flash right now, as you can all see. And we're just gonna proceed and keep going with this interview and it'll subside. So it's like I sometimes feel like certain situations, instead of being embarrassed about it, you're not gonna necessarily say that on live TV, but you know, how did you deal with menopause in the spotlight? Because that's a big question. And I do want to say women should never feel embarrassed about something that happens to all women.

Speaker 1 28:52

Well, seeing, and I love that story. Um, I seeing women, the conversation now. Uh, I'm I'm at that age and in that movement that there is a conversation about it now, and there are products supporting that. I mean, I'm selling a vag tightener for heaven's sakes. I saw that. I saw that on a TSC. I love it. You're holding uh, you know, uh the whole dealio. And so you're having these conversations with with doctors and with so it's out there, and I have I have no problem talking about um incontinence and vaginal tightness and wetness and dryness and all that kind of stuff. And uh I I remember having that you know, that talk with myself, going, okay, you know, are you comfortable with doing that? Are you you know about what you're going to say? And I'm like, if we're gonna talk about it, we've got to talk about it. Like we've got to just like say no holds bar. You just have to open up to it. And then it's a matter of how much of your own self are you gonna give out and you know, as you relate to it, right? And honest to goodness, it made no difference to me. I was glad the conversation came out, and it's I I I it's a community of women that are helping women. I mean, it's only positive, it's only positive stuff.

Sandy Kruse 30:19

Yeah, I agree. And you know, was there ever a time that you felt that insecurity, whatever hot flashes or anything, and you were, you know, in the middle of a live recording or something like that. Has that ever happened to you?

Speaker 1 30:36

Well, I've been very lucky about hot flashes because I haven't really gotten them, and my girlfriends hate me for that. So that's not really happened, but sleep and fatigue and and some of those issues and you know, weight, I mean, that cat that crept up on me. So that was a big deal for me. And so I've at around 52, it was okay, I gotta shed like 30 pounds, you know. So, like that was something in a conversation um that I had with myself and you know, tried all that business be way before COVID. Um, but there was a moment on air, you know, it was it was kind of funny when people, when I did lose weight, people wanted to know how did you lose it? Why did you lose it? What was going on, and were really sending me all these private messages about it. And I had um tried, my doctor had said, Why don't you try Saxenda? It was off, it was before the Holozepic thing, and he had offered it to me to try it, and I tried it and it worked beautifully. Like it was, I lost 10 pounds in the first month. Now, nobody the whole movement hadn't started yet. Maybe it had started in Hollywood or whatever it was, but he was all for it, and I'm like, bring it on, like if you've got this thing that can help. And then everybody started talking about you know negative implications of you know, or judgment rather. I mean, there's a lot of science and study around it and whatever, but it was uh people wanted to know, and I was like feeling almost ashamed about saying it, right? About saying, oh, well, I was trying something to help me do that, and um, and then I finally did, and it didn't, and and I thought, forget it, I don't care about people's judgment for it. It really helped and it worked for me, and I did it for about six months, and so that was a bit of an interesting kind of time.

Sandy Kruse 32:40

I I find that interesting too, and and this is the thing, Carrie, you kind of touched on it, but for some reason, maybe it's because we live in this social media world, people feel like it's okay to ask questions that you know might be private, but at the same time, you can be very graceful in how you share information, like well, uh right, like okay.

Pro-Aging Beauty And The Botox Debate

Speaker 1 33:09

So a story to I didn't mean to cut you, it just makes me think about um somebody brought to my attention and they had said, because I had I so many people had said to me, you know, imagine 30 pounds. I'd lost 30 pounds, I'd done it on camera, right? And people had said, you know, you are so much thinner, you know. Oh my gosh, like you're shrinking away to nothing. And I and and I remember thinking, wow, what a backhanded compliment. Oh, you were so big before. And it was this backhanded compliment, and it the the it didn't completely resonate to me until I said it to somebody else, and I said, Wow, you're getting too thin. She's and then she actually schooled me a little bit, and she said, you know what? That's just as bad, right? As saying, like, because we think it then is being so acceptable or whatever, or that's the standard of beauty, and she really brought it to my attention and we had this great conversation and exchange about it. So I'm I will never say to someone, oh my gosh, you've lost so much weight. You know, it was it was really an eye-opener for me.

Sandy Kruse 34:25

Same, same. And the other thing that I won't say ever, just because I I I think self-awareness, you just mentioned something, you've clearly got a lot of self-awareness, right? Because you realize something and then you changed the dynamic on how you approach subjects like this. So that's that's amazing. I commend you for that because a lot of people don't, right? And so I'm I'm personally extremely sensitive to weight. I don't have a thyroid gland, I had thyroid cancer, and people will say, Oh, what do you mean? You just take your medication and it's the same thing. I'm like, Well, no, it's not when you lose an organ, it your body operates differently, and this is the master of metabolism that's gone. So um, I'm very sensitive to that. But the other one, Carrie, is oh, you look great for your age. No, oh, please, you look great.

Speaker 1 35:22

How about you look great? You look fabulous, yeah. Or or the idea, like, I mean, the idea, like, I'm gonna be 60, you know, your idea of what 60 is, or all of that. I it's it's very hard to you know to swallow that. You're like, why? You know, it feels so good right now. I mean, life feels really wonderful, but the whole looking good for your age, yes, and I battle with the idea of you know, Botox and injectables and all of these things and and what goes on. I guess I'm maybe I don't know if I'm more exposed to it in the business I'm in, but you know, uh the judgment that's surrounding all of that kind of stuff, and I'm all for it if you're for it, right? So whatever makes you happy makes you happy. So I do I I I work with um uh a company with uh Oakville, Oakville Plastic Surgery, and I try out some of their new things and it like you know, little bog talks here, and hey, it makes me feel good, so why not? So, yes, I understand what you mean, but uh people and people will judge that.

Sandy Kruse 36:33

And I'm always like, listen, you do you, whatever makes you feel better. I don't care, I don't care. I'm not gonna judge you for it, but Carrie, oh my god, I had this post. This was back when I was 52. I'm 56 now. On TikTok, I did all this research around, and maybe you want to try this, I don't know. Topical, it's it's topical estriol. So I did all this research on women in menopause on how they get, you know, it's almost like that tissue paper crisscross skin. Yeah. And I'm like, I'm starting to get that around my eyes. This was when I was 52. So I did all this research. I'm like, okay, this I wasn't in full menopause yet. I don't want to do full HRT yet. I wasn't ready for that. But then this research is like, oh my God, like estriol is the highest when you're pregnant. What do you have? That beautiful pregnancy glow, green hair great for the skin. So I did this post, it went viral on TikTok, on Instagram, and I had women calling me a Botox head, Carrie. And and I you see what I'm saying? And so I was like, okay, you know what? You can say whatever you want. I'm talking about this, yes, and it relates to skin. And if you have knowledge and the research behind it, you know that you can get Botox and have horrible skin itself. It's not about the quality of the skin, right? So I just kind of left it, but it's kind of along that same lines of what you're talking about about judgment and being out there and putting yourself out there to teach, to educate, to help people.

Speaker 1 38:24

And there's options that there's options. Yeah. If it's so good and feel feel confident, I mean, I'm so for it. I mean, and I've done I've done several posts uh for for this company, and I and I've tried the hyaluronic acid under the skin to see just so to get the dewiness back because it's a it's a lot drier than it than it used to be. Um, and and then tried some procedures that I'm like, oh, I couldn't stand that, and nor would I want to promote that, right? So uh, you know, and I haven't done surgery or whatever, but it's like I am I am so supportive of whatever women want to do. And the problem is in the line is when it starts to get obsessive or and ever uh you know, and who are I guess who are we to tell somebody else that they've done too much, but you you know, you see that and you see it's now changing somebody's looks so drastically that they become unrecognizable, and then you know, that's a whole other road to go down, of which I'm certainly not educated to talk about, but that's that's a really that's really sad, yeah. So, you know, like what when is enough enough? And is that what's making that person feel really good about themselves? Like, I I don't know. So I think that's where the fine line is, but hey, I have no judgment on it at all.

Sandy Kruse 39:58

I agree, and I have I have definitely recorded about that because I believe it always has to come from the inside, what you put in your body, and then if you know that you're kind of doing the best inside, meaning whatever it is that you resonate with, any kind of spiritual practice or any kind of grounding practice, anything like that that resonates with you, and you still want to do it, and you're not doing it because you know you don't like what's inside, then by all means, you know what I mean? Always just do self-reflection, and that's where you're gonna know the answer yourself, as opposed to somebody telling you, right?

Clearing Clutter To Find Calm

Speaker 1 40:39

Absolutely. And I mean, uh I sell a lot of beauty products. I mean, there's a lot of people that come in with this tool or that tool, and I really want to take very much that pro-aging approach because it's not like you know, wrinkles are bad or you know, whatever. It's like if this makes you unhappy and you're looking for a solution for it. I mean, if your neck bothers you, if that bothers you, that bothers you, then here is this option, right? This is where science is going. This is the latest in technology. So here are potential solutions, right? Um, but it's funny because my daughter and I talk about this, and she's like, you know, don't go out there and tell women that that, you know, it's bad to show lines and wrinkles. And I'm like, I I don't feel like I'm doing that. And she's like, make sure you make a conscious effort. Like she's she's very on me about that. She's and we talked and talk about you know the idea of pro-aging. And now that I am 60 and what I used or going to be 60, um, when I look at what my representation of 60 was years ago and what it is today, you know, 60 is the new 40 and all that kind of thing. I mean, I do think that's an advancement in the way we live and what's available to us and the products that are available or whatever it is, right? Like, you know, so why the heck shouldn't we take advantage of it and feel good?

Sandy Kruse 42:18

I agree with you. And and our daughters are our biggest, our biggest critics, let's just say, and I welcome yeah, yeah. Listen, I got one too. Um, I know how you feel, but at the same time, you know, it's interesting. I'm going through a little bit of a process right now. I hadn't done I'm I'm big on skin treatments, I'm big on glowing skin and all of that. And if you have some wrinkles, so be it. If you don't, you don't. But you know what my um she's a medical aesthetician. You know what she said to me, and I really resonated with that. She said, You have wrinkles at every age. When you are 25 and you have a big smile and laugh, you're gonna have a few lines. You're gonna have, and it's not the wrinkles that educate uh that make you old looking, it's when you just don't take care of yourself, and that's kind of like what we were talking about that energy that comes from inside, the food that you put in your body, the and so that's why it's all boils down to choice, right? And you know, you can meet like I I see some, you know, I watch a lot of these longevity people, like where they interview elderly women or men, and you know, it's that light that they hold, right? It's that, you know. I look at my dad, he's 89, he gets on his bike, Carrie, and he rides his bike and he says hi to people in the neighborhood, and people see his light. And I think that that is what's most important about you know, being in the light like you are, and aging in front of a camera, right? It's like people see your light, Carrie.

Speaker 1 44:05

Thank you. You know, it is it's it's funny when you talk about your dad, like, you know, and I watch those shows too, and blue zones and and and what's the secret to longevity and what's it all about? And and the underlying thing always comes back to that sense of community, right? That sense of like those love and relationships and that calmness and the letting go, you know, it's funny because I'm moving right now and I am packing all my shit, okay? And I am packing, and I'm like, why do I have this much stuff? And anybody who's packed says exactly the same thing, so it's I cannot believe that I've been hoarding this much. That means nothing to me, you know, and all it is is filling a space and filling a space in the house, and and it's it's really this wonderful feeling of purging that, you know, physical stuff. But you know, I think we all need to purge the mental stuff too, right? And have that sense of calm and clarity, which is not certainly easy to get, but I think the more the stuff that you have, you know, really complicates it. And you know, the physical stuff really you put it into into light for me. And you know, before be like, oh, I gotta, I gotta keep that. I'm gonna need it for something, sometime, some way, someday. And now I mean we're on our third dumpster.

Sandy Kruse 45:38

Oh, wow. That's a lot of work.

Speaker 1 45:41

So it's that clutter in your brain, and it's that clutter that that that I don't know, creates a lot of stress. And when you talk about, you know, I mean, lines and wrinkles, obviously that reflects that outside, it reflects on what's going on in the inside. Um Just to digress a moment, I mean, you know, when you talk to medical estheticians, I mean 25-year-olds are coming in for Botox. They're coming in over those lines that you're talking about, the natural smile lines, you know, the nose-to-mouth lines, and you know, here, here, whatever. And they're coming in to get that done and taking that magic out of their faces, right? So, you know, I wish they wouldn't do that. Like, I just, you know, let that individuality come out a little bit, but there's a lot of pressure in that. I I know I'm sort of, you know, complicating the two issues, but it's um, you just gotta just clear the clutter.

Sandy Kruse 46:43

Yeah, no, I agree with you on that too. And and you know, you're talking about clearing the clutter, it's it's in everything. And I don't know if you were like this, but you know, your 40s was very different. Like when I was in my 40s, it was about building, getting, accumulating, right? Like it was all climbing the ladder, yeah. And then all of a sudden, you know, at you know, at 56, I'm like, I don't care about Gucci, I don't care about Prada, like it's like my whole world has completely changed where so many things matter to me more. Like, what's in here to be able to help others and express, and and I think that people and women who stay relevant because they're saying, I'm not gonna fade away, I got so much left in here and here that I want to share.

Speaker 1 47:41

Yeah, I absolutely. I mean, uh uh it's funny when you say sort of, you know, all the the name brands and the climbing and and attaining, I guess they were just markers and measures of success, right? And everybody comes to, you know, when you sit there and I tell my 35-year-old son who wants to attain all the things that I wanted when I was 35, right? All those measures and markers of societal success, right? And and then to sit and really look at him and say, you know, that's really not going to matter. And there no one believes you. And I wouldn't believe anybody who told me that, because you have to go there in order to understand that, you know, and realize that it's not all that stuff, it's it's an inner thing. So I think everybody has to take that journey. It's like, you know, oh well, that you know, I'm that kind of person. Well, the the burner's hot. Well, I have to touch it to find out from myself. I wish I wasn't so much that way sometimes, but I have to have that experience.

Sandy Kruse 48:50

You just said it. It's it's like at that age, maybe that's it. Maybe we've just broken down what it means to, you know, reach this this because it's at that age, it's more outside in living versus inside out living.

Speaker 1 49:06

Well, because you also your mortality comes into effect now. You know, how many Christmases do you have left? Right? Like, you know, I mean, I thank goodness I have a mother who is 80, who is going to be 80 in May, who is not on any medication, who plays pickleball every day, and is really the young one in her group. And I mean, her mother lived to 100 um and was, you know, trying to kiss the priest when he was trying to get in and counsel her. Like, I mean, she was full of spit and vinegar. That probably sounds awful, but you know, she's laying in her bed and she's like, Come here, come here, you know, my it's just you know, full of full of life still. Um, I said to my grandmother, you know, what's the worst part of getting old? She said, Well, my body just doesn't want to work anymore. My mind still works, but my body doesn't, you know. So I don't know. I the mortality comes into effect, and you you realize what you know, if if any if anyone goes to therapy, what do they a lot of times will ask you? Well, think about the happiest moments in your life, right? And those happiest moments don't, I mean, a Gucci bag isn't there generally.

Retirement Pressure And Loving Work

Sandy Kruse 50:20

No, generally. No, no, that it's not, and it's not anything really that's gonna create a lot of depth or warmth or meaningfulness in your life.

Speaker 1 50:35

But we but that pressure is being put on, like you when you're getting married, when you're having kids, um, gotta buy a house, all that kind of stuff. Whereas unfortunately, kids now, I mean, many of them will never be in a position to buy a home. Yeah. So those markers of success are are are unattainable, and that's throwing them, a lot of them, into these wild depressions because they won't attain that stuff, and and so they've got to find it somewhere else. And be nice if they started to find it inwards younger. That would certainly be nice, but probably we're gonna it's not it's gonna take a long time to make that transition. How you know the world is changing so much.

Sandy Kruse 51:19

Yes, I agree. Another thing I hear from you know, you know, younger adults, like 20s, 30s, is I never want to have kids, I don't want to bring kids up in a world like this, right? You've probably heard that.

Speaker 1 51:32

I have two who don't have kids yet, so yeah, yeah.

Sandy Kruse 51:37

So I mean, I I I'm I'm I'm this like eternal realist optimist, if that even makes sense.

Speaker 1 51:47

Like, I do believe, don't you think we do just to get the day done? Like you have to have a bit of optimism, yeah.

Sandy Kruse 51:57

I think so. I think that's kind of the way that you know we can forge ahead and just keep going with you know, starting from the inside, inside out living. Because just like what we were saying, if you're doing a lot of outside in, you're going to be pinged constantly by things that are really hurting your essence, I think.

Flow State And Being Fully Present

Speaker 1 52:19

Or just not being able to find out what that really is, you know, not spending enough time with yourself to know what it what that really looks like. So that can be that can be pretty tough as well. Like I had sort of said to myself, like, you know, we we had a place down in Mexico and and um a lot of people, oh, you're gonna retire there, and that's what you're gonna do. And you know, I'd go down there and people would say, Oh, do you come to yoga with me? Or do you want, oh, let's go to pickleball, or do you want to you know, start kite boarding or you know, whatever? And I'm like, no, no, no, that's not really. And I'm like, what am I going to do for a hobby? Like, like for the life of me, I couldn't figure out a hobby. Like, there was nothing that, so I'm like, I got an e-bike, and so I'm on the e-bike. I'm like, okay, I like this, but I don't love this. I mean, this is pleasant and I'm enjoying it, but I can't, I'm not obsessing about it or anything. Not like, you know, people like, you know, like my husband's a kit, you know, he like loves to go kiting. Uh, and that's the community of uh around this place. So I thought, I really like working. Like I love my job, like I love what I do, and that's what's giving gives me the fulfillment. So, and that's sort of looked upon as well, what do you mean? You're not gonna retire if you have the option to retire and to not do anything. I might, I think I might just die if I don't, you know, stay busy and active and all of that sort of thing. And not that those things aren't, because they are, and that's a great, a great um, you know, place of zen for a lot of people. But I get into my sort of flow state, uh, you know, when I'm working and I'm on air and it's a good show, and and you just sort of time goes like that, and you're like, oh, so that's what flow state is.

Sandy Kruse 54:22

So I love that you talked about flow state because he, oh my god, like do you know how many times I've heard, like, what's your hobby? I'm like, I don't have a hobby. I just I just like to do what I do, and you know, I work alongside my husband, and he's a big golfer, so that's his big thing. And I like to golf too, but it's not something that I want to spend, you know, five days away five days away from home, five hours a time. It's just doesn't interest me. Yeah, tell me what does flow state mean to you? That's an amazing way to start tying this up.

Advice For Women Who Stay Visible

Speaker 1 55:02

Well, it's I never really had thought about it before. And I was just listening to a podcast and and they were talking about it, and I thought, oh my gosh, like when I get off the air and I feel like just you know, invigorated and energized, and it didn't feel like work, and it was like, you know, I was just in tune and and and that conversation was just flowing, and time had absolutely no meaning. But I think the biggest part of it was is I wasn't thinking of anything else, I was present, and when and I think that can be one of the hardest things to be, but that's a really big component for it. So, you know, like I I'd love to know how to meditate. Like, I mean, God love people who can meditate, I'm just not there yet.

Sandy Kruse 55:57

Yeah, but maybe that'll be my flow, maybe that's it. But you know, I I actually recently recorded a podcast all about embodiment, and I think what you're describing is basically the same thing as embodying who you are at your core and you're you're resonating out and you're not veering from that, meaning those distractions over there or over there, they're not distracting you because you are embodying who you are and what lights you up.

Speaker 1 56:31

Yeah, I guess. I mean, that's why I love what I do so much, but I it doesn't even just have to be about, you know, the shopping or whatever it is, it's just that conversation, you know, and and and learning something new or lifting that person up and just being totally in tune. It's it's a really it's a really unique feeling, you know, and maybe maybe that's what people get when they have hobbies. I have no idea.

Sandy Kruse 56:59

Maybe, maybe, maybe that's it, or or carry, it could be just like they're just trying to distract themselves from their real life. That could also be it.

Speaker 1 57:08

Maybe I mean when I see people who love golf that much, I'm like, hey, that's your zen.

Sandy Kruse 57:16

I guess now, okay. If you could offer one grounded oh gosh, I know here we go. One grounded truth, one grounded piece of advice to women who don't want to fade away. Like, what would that be? What keeps you going even when you get knocked down? Because I'm sure in all these years of being on television, you've been knocked down. So what keeps you going?

Building Carryo For Real Bodies

Speaker 1 57:48

It's just this inner drive I've always had, but I think it's more just feeling more confident as I get older, like not feeling competitive, not feeling um you know, that I have to climb the ladder or do this or do that, or or that I have to meet other people's expectations. You know, the idea of finally coming into feeling confident enough that if I want to try a new idea, that I feel supportive enough in myself that that I'm not worried about other people's judgment for it, or you know, someone to say, oh, well, that sounds ridiculous. Well, so what? I'm who cares, you know. Um I guess with getting older, you know, Oprah's always said those are some of the best years of your life. Um, that really is one of the greatest things, is is that listening, finally listening to your inner voice and acting upon it and not worried about what other people think.

Sandy Kruse 58:55

Yeah. Maybe that's it. We, you know, when we're younger, maybe we we worry too much about how we will appear, how we what other people will think, or whatever.

Speaker 1 59:12

Like I feel like people who you people who judge, you know, are people who are afraid, you know, they're afraid to to try it themselves. I mean, can you imagine judging somebody for wanting to try a new idea or to you know feel confident enough to be vulnerable in front of you? I mean, shame on those people who judge.

Sandy Kruse 59:39

Do you do you ever listen or read Brene Brown? I love her. Yeah, of course. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's like, you know what, unless you're in the ring with me, you know, you're because people love to give that, right? People love to give their opinions. People were like, What? What are you going back to college for in your 40s? Why would you bother doing that? I'm like, I had so many opinions, and I'm like, because I want to, I want to help other people, like, and I need to have some credentials to do it. So I'm I'm doing it, and and don't be afraid to start something new, yeah.

Speaker 1 1:00:15

Like, just don't be afraid of anything to start something new, and like I just feel like I, you know, I've got the the confidence to do that, right? Or to have an opinion or voice or or or not to feel, yeah, you know, small, I guess.

Sandy Kruse 1:00:32

Yeah, reinvent yourself no matter how old you are, don't even think about it, always reinvent, right? Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 1 1:00:40

And I mean, that's what the new with fashion line. That's exactly what you know, when we when we sat there, you know, talking about that. Um it was, well, what do you want to do? And I thought, well, I mean, you know, what there's a million fashion lines out there, there's a million of this and a million of that. I mean, what could I possibly offer that would be, you know, different or this or that? And and and I just thought, well, I mean, if they were things that I liked and things that I wanted that were serving me in my life now, you know, talking with my girlfriends and other people, it was like, well, maybe it'd help and serve other people as well, you know, just about fit and my changing body and not conforming to uh certain cuts that are enclosed that, you know, well, you do what everyone talks about you, you know, you got that little roll and you won't have a muffin top and all that. I mean, oh my god. I mean, if I hear that over and over again, it's like, how about we give you a little bit more fabric here and then take it in here? So, you know, you you feel like it's a relaxed but kind of custom fit.

Sandy Kruse 1:01:53

So, you know, yeah, tell us more because it's called Karao. How do people get it? Is it available only in Canada right now?

Speaker 1 1:02:02

Yeah, it's just it's exclusive to the shopping channel, and so they were really wonderful in being supportive on doing the line, and it's all made in Canada, it's made in Montreal, and so we did our first little capsule that was uh about 20 pieces, and so my next one comes out um next collection on May 24th, or the shows, but we'll probably drop it about a week earlier online, and then we'll come back with the fall collection, and it's been so wonderful and supportive, um, you know, the so far. I mean, what goes into it? It took about two years to get it to this point, and everything in in the collection is relaxed but tailored, yeah, you know, like I what I'm wearing right now. I never thought I'd be wearing um a so-called caftan, but it's a jean caftan. So it's a dress, it's a jean dress, but it's cut in a little bit of a different way. So it's yeah, these are essentials that that I really loved for me. And the idea was to clear the clutter, because that's where I'm sort of at in my life, is to I've looked in my closet, and it's funny because it's evolved into women sending me pictures of their closets because the everything is jammed in there, right? And the clutter is there. The old saying, we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. True, which right? Yeah, and you know, everything that's in the back of your closet. So I was looking at my closet like it was a time capsule of someone I used to be or wanted to still be, or thought I should be, and they weren't serving me at all. And I thought, like, I gotta get rid of them, I'm getting rid of them. And I wanted that aspirational closet, you know, the one that actually had the inch or two in between each garment because each one I was actually wearing.

Sandy Kruse 1:04:05

Oh, you're wearing the caftan. I was sending my girlfriend the link to that this morning because I'm like, I love this. And you know what I love too is that I personally I love that you don't say things like carry-o, specific for women 50 plus, or you know what I mean? Like, I love that it's for anybody who wants clothing that's stylish, that looks great, has nothing to do with, you know, you're an old lady, so you can't wear that. Like, honestly, Carrie, do you okay? I God love my mom. She's very, very traditional, same age as your mom. She'll be 80 in July. And she's like, she's like, Oh, I can't wear that. The skirt is above the knees. I'm like, mom, you've got the most gorgeous legs, right? Your legs are beautiful. I'm like, wear what you want, mom.

Where To Shop And Final Words

Speaker 1 1:04:58

The idea of of you know, wanting to be a little edgy and not doing it because I don't want to be looking like I'm wearing my daughter's clothes and all of that. There's there is that fine line, it is so funny. So we just gotta take away all those boundaries and that's it. But our body's different, like there's skin in us in spots that didn't necessarily before, right? So when I put that on that I really want to wear, it doesn't quite feel right. So let's just do a little bit of a tucker let out in those places so it the fit is better. I mean, I just really want that designer fit, but it not at those prices. I mean, why is a product t-shirt several hundred dollars? Um, you know, you put one on and you go, Oh, well, this is the best t-shirt I've ever worn. But who's got that kind of money?

Sandy Kruse 1:05:55

Yeah. You know what? And and that's the thing is we were talking about brands before that. And while there's some brands that, you know, they're they're there for longevity and they're there for quality and all of that. And then there's other brands that are more for show and whatever. And it was funny, my sister and I, um, not sister, my sister-in-law and I, we were talking about, you know, looking at name tags, and it's like, who cares? I want to wear something that makes me feel good when I put it on. That's it. I don't want any judgment, I don't care about whether it's shorter or longer or whatever, just make sure it fits me. That's it. You got it.

Speaker 1 1:06:35

I've had exactly what you feel so that's that, and not apologizing for it. One of the same thing as talking about getting old and wrinkles, right? And and talking about, you know, muffin tops and fat and you know, and hiding this and hiding that. And you know, I think we all just ultimately want it to be smooth, right? We just kind of want a smooth fish, no matter what the dimensions are.

Sandy Kruse 1:07:02

I just want it to be smooth, yeah, and comfortable for me. It's all about you know, showing my best assets. How about that? I want to show what what my what I think my best assets are. I want to show that. How about that?

Speaker 1 1:07:18

Absolutely, and they're different for everyone.

Sandy Kruse 1:07:21

Exactly. You probably laugh at me, Carrie, because I'm always like, you know, like I always try and hide my boobs, right? Because I'm a very short little person. And then, you know, somebody will be like, people pay for that. Why are you hiding that? I'm like, you know, it's true, but it's just like it's my thing. It's my thing. You want to minimize your bust, right? And that's absolutely where you know, is there anything that I missed? We we talk, I'm gonna have links in my description on where people can find your collection. And is there Anything else that you want to add? Anything that you wanna close off with?

Speaker 1 1:08:03

No, I just think I mean I'm just happy that we're having these kinds of discussions, you know, and and having it with you today has really been wonderful. So I appreciate that. And no, just just go to tsc.ca and just put in carry out and have a look. And uh there's there's only a few pieces on at the moment. We were very lucky. We had lots of sellouts, but it'll be back uh towards the end of May, you know, pro aging, right?

Sandy Kruse 1:08:29

I'm there with you, sister. So everyone make sure that you watch Carrie on TSC. She's my favorite.

Speaker 1 1:08:36

Oh, and you're mine. Thank you, my dear.

Sandy Kruse 1:08:39

Thank you. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Be sure to share it with someone you know might benefit. And always remember when you rate, review, subscribe, you help to support my content and help me to keep going and bring these conversations to you each and every week. Join me next week for a new topic, new guest, new exciting conversations to help you live your best life.