Bangs, Botox, and the Never Pause: Aging with Humor with Diane Dean-Epps

**Season 3 kicks off with laughter!** Humorist Diane Dean-Epps joins Michelle to talk about the absurdities of aging, why women over 50 need more laughter (not more anti-aging advice), and how humor can carry you through the hard stuff. Diane is the author of four humor books, including *BANGS 'N' BOTOX: My Aging Journey Into, Through, and Beyond Denial, Fillers & Human Preservatives*, and the host of the Bangs 'n' Botox podcast. Her "sit-down stand-up" style feels like chatting over a drink with a funny friend, and her reinvention story proves there's always another path to what you want. **In this episode:** - The doctor's-office moment ("You're aging") that sparked her book - What "sit-down stand-up" really means, and how she found her voice - Aging as a non-famous woman: invisibility, limited resources, and why that frees her to say real things - The "never pause," hot flashes, and what nobody warns you about - Snail mucin skincare and other experiments that were only marginally successful - Why humor gets overlooked, and the many forms it can take (memes, funny friends, animal videos) - The brain science of laughter and why trying something new matters as we age - Turning an embarrassing moment into a story people laugh with, not at - Why she keeps writing, and the "Emily Dickinson of humor writing" plan - Her comeback: leaving radio and TV, failing a high-stakes teaching exam twice, passing on the third try, and becoming a 30-year English teacher **Key takeaways:** - Humor is a coping tool, and you don't have to be "naturally funny" to use it. - Exaggerate the awkward moment and it becomes a better story. - If the first path doesn't work, find another. A comeback story is always better when it wasn't easy. - You matter, and you're not alone. **Connect with Diane:** Website: dianedeaneppswriting.com Instagram: @mswrite Also on Facebook and LinkedIn Book: BANGS 'N' BOTOX on Amazon Podcast: Bangs 'n' Botox on YouTube, Spotify, and other platforms **About Michelle Thompson:** Michelle is a certified life coach, author of *Courageously You: 7 Simple Frameworks to Create the Life You Love* and the host of Her Comeback. Get your copy of *Courageously You* on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H5717G3D) or anywhere books are sold. Ready to stop thinking about your next chapter and start living it? Book a call at michellethompsoncoaching.com. Loved this episode? Share it with a friend who needs a laugh, and subscribe on YouTube