In this episode of Act Three, hosted by Cara Gray, we delve into a captivating conversation with Alicia Johnson, a writer and transformation specialist. Alicia discusses her upcoming book, 'Buried Treasure,' which blends memoir and practical guidance for trauma recovery through wonder and self-revelation. She also shares her inspiring journey of returning to the modeling industry with Ford Models, breaking barriers as a mature, curvy model. Join us as Alicia talks about her approach to aging, her work in personal and professional renewal, and her exciting future projects, including her forthcoming novel 'Hudson.' Plus, insights on how to plan and intentionally design your third act of life.

00:00 Introduction and Sponsor Message

00:24 Guest Introduction: Alicia Johnson

02:18 Alicia's Modeling Journey

03:06 The Ford Modeling Agency Story

08:59 Representation and Aging in Fashion

15:29 Alicia's New Home Plans

20:23 Back to the Book: Wonder-Based Trauma Recovery

21:00 Personal Trauma and Lifelong Research

21:33 Synthesizing Research During Covid

23:27 The Role of Play and Imagination in Healing

24:32 The Body Keeps the Score

25:57 Making Friends with Your Brain

29:36 Understanding Personal Trauma

32:37 Transformational Projects and Brand Strategy

38:02 Future Projects and Personal Growth

45:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

To purchase Alicia’s Books or connect with her: https://www.aliciaellejohnson.com/

Forbes Article: How Mature, Plus-size Models are Creating Their Own Runways https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenphilipkoski/2025/01/30/how-mature-plus-size-models-are-creating-their-own-runways/

This podcast is sponsored by Good Morning Freedom, my consulting practice. I help executives and professionals plan the non-financial part of their retirement, like how to discover new purpose and how you want to spend your time. I offer a 1:1 third-act blueprint package where we work together to discover some new avenues of exploration for your Act Three. This coaching is completely custom and will provide you with a ton of resources and support as you transition to this new stage of life. For all the details, please go to goodmorningfreedom.com.

Connect with Cara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caraliveslife/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caraliveslife/