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Today, I am talking with Kirsten Samuel. She is a betrayal recovery coach, author and speaker who said yes to a completely unexpected post-50 adventure that moved her from rural life in Colorado to downtown Chicago.
Kirsten works primarily with women navigating marriage betrayal connected to pornography addiction. She also helps people rethink shame, identity and what healing can look like on the other side of heartbreak.
Along the way, she and her husband, Dave, also became travel coordinators for a Christian travel company and now work several cruises a year, which enables them to meet vibrant, purpose-filled people of all ages.
Here are a few takeaways you will hear in this conversation:
First, Kirsten explains why the post-50 years are not an ending, but a reassignment, and why she does not believe God calls people to stop contributing.
Second, she shares what it felt like to discover her husband’s long-hidden pornography struggle, why betrayal cuts so deep for spouses and how healing requires separate journeys for both people.
Third, she challenges the shame that so many men and women carry, and she explains the identity shift that changed everything for her, moving from “I am not enough” to the truth she said God showed her.
Fourth, Kirsten talks about the problem of playing small, why so many people stay invisible because it feels safe, and how renewing your mind can help you step forward with courage.
Finally, she offers practical encouragement for anyone over 50 who feels stuck, including one .starting point. That is to try things, experiment and stop comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle.
What stayed with me is how clearly Kirsten connected purpose to courage. She and her husband made a major move later in life, stepped into new work, and kept saying yes to opportunities they never saw coming. That included coaching and speaking to coordinating cruises and helping other people tell their stories through books.
Kirsten also spoke honestly about marriage betrayal and the emotional impact of pornography, especially the shame and the identity wounds that can hit a spouse.
She reminds people that shame does not get the final word, healing is possible, and you can come out on the other side with more freedom and joy than you thought you could experience.
If you want to learn more about Kirsten, find her at kirstendsamuel.com. You can also find her on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube using the same name.
There are links in the show notes for several resources Kirsten offers, including:
- An autographed copy of her book, “Choosing a Way Out,” for just $6 to cover shipping and handling.
- A free PDF download of “5 Steps to Calm Yourself After Marriage Betrayal.”
- A free PDF download of “11 Shame-Provoking Lies People Tell About Porn Addiction.”
Her books, “Choosing a Way Out,” and “5 Lies Moms Believe,” are available on her website as well as Amazon.
If you are dealing with marriage betrayal and want to talk with Kirsten, she mentioned a complimentary 30-minute session to talk about what you are going through. On her website homepage, look for the button that says “complimentary session.”
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
