The Pels Law Firm, LLC

Counsel, civil litigation practice, including tax, contract, environmental and administrative law matters.

Attorney

Www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com

Professional proofreading by graduate of top-10 law school, author and journalist.  Reasonable rates and expedited service.

Professional Proofreader

Assists book authors design their book publicity tours and increase visibility for their books.  See www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com for more information.

Book Marketing Consultant

TEDxCUNY

Featured speaker at TEDx CUNY's "Reflections" event.  Our daily lives have been altered— from the way we learn, to the way we show love to those dearest to us. As we leap into a better tomorrow, we must not only look back on our collective victories, but also recognize how adversity shapes the road to triumph. The process of introspection is intrinsically painful, long, and arduous, requiring much vigor and perseverance. The true power of reflection, whether occurring during moments of peace or chaos, lies in its ability to facilitate an increase in our individual agency, and thus create lasting change. Join us as we reflect on our pasts to create a more hopeful future.  https://www.tedxcuny.com/digital

TEDx Speaker

50 After 50–Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life

Middle age blues have an antidote.  TEDx speaker, radio talk show co-host, podcaster, women's writing/empowerment coach, mentor, public speaker, author, recovery sponsor and attorney Maria Leonard Olsen has turned age 50 into an igniting point for women.  50 After 50:  Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life is a blueprint for turning midlife into the most invigorating chapter yet.  At a time when women's familial responsibilities usually become less all-consuming, Olsen found a way for women to reclaim their authenticity and discover what truly makes them happy.

Author & Public Speaker

Author of Not the Cleaver Family--The New Normal in Modern American Families

As a biracial woman, I was frequently mistaken as the nanny of my lighter-skinned children.  Assumptions have not quite caught up with America's melting pot reality.  The contemporary American family has changed drastically.  Same sex marriage is no longer uncommon.  Couples are affirmatively choosing to have one child (a choice that may have elicited sympathy in our parent's generation), or to be child-free.  Sperm banks allow women to have their own children without a partner.  A mom, a dad and 2.5 children is no longer the norm.
	Within 30 years, less than half of the U.S. population will be white.  Laws prohibiting interracial marriage were banned in 1967 by the Supreme Court, and same-sex marriage is now legal in many states.  Cultural shifts and science have allowed the typical American family to no longer resemble the Cleavers of a generation ago. 
	This book is based on hundreds of interviews with families across the country, and illustrates just how the normative paradigm of the American family has changed.  From  these stories, we can examine the scope of the changes and sometimes ignorant reactions to such changes.  This book is designed to raise our collective consciousness about what the  contemporary American family has become, and help educators and caring citizens remain aware of and appreciate our evolving society.  It is a message of hope and call for inclusion.

Author and Public Speaker

Children's Book Author

Speak at schools re diversity and the writing process.  Currently working on nonfiction book.

Book:  "Mommy, Why's Your Skin So Brown?"

Writer and Editor, freelance

Write for a variety of publications, including The Washington Post and the Washingtonian.  Currently under contract for two books.

Journalist/Author

Becoming Your Best Version Podcast

Becoming Your Best Version is full of tips and inspiration for living your best life.  See www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com or subscribe on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6uVx6dyp9zG7Pnxwp1pOO9 or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Podcast Host of Becoming Your Best Version

WPFW

Co-host and co-producer of the "Inside Out" show on WPFW-FM, 89.3, "Jazz & Justice."  Part of a collective on the only radio show on the FM dial in the Washington, D.C., area dedicated to issues of interest to the LGBTQA community.  My focus is on diversity, inclusion and how to be an ally to LGBTQA individuals.  Past guests on my show have included DC Attorney General Karl Racine (on DC statehood and his office's efforts on behalf of the LGBT community) and The Gay Men's Choir of Washington (on their talent and advocacy).  I generally host on the first Tuesday of each month.  Shows archived on station site and on iTunes ("WPFW Inside Out").

Radio Program Host

Law Offices of Lloyd Malech

TEDx Speaker, attorney practicing civil litigation at The Pels Law Firm, author of a popular adult’s self help book and children's book who speaks at companies, retreats and organizations about living your best life, and at schools regarding diversity and the writing process.  Nonfiction adult books:  "Not the Cleaver Family--The New Normal in Modern American Families" and “50 After 50–Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life.”  Co-host and co-producer of the "Inside Out" show on WPFW-FM radio.  Motivational speaker at corporate and nonprofit events, retreats, book clubs and other meetings. Book marketing consultant for authors. Host of podcast, “Becoming Your Best Version.”  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/becoming-your-best-version/id1562910379
Contributor to AARP's The Ethel magazine, Parents.com, CrunchyTales Smart Stories for Late Bloomers, Authority Magazine and The Washington Post.   Thought Leader for KuelLife.com, redefining midlife for women. bio.site/FiftyAfter50

For more information or to book Maria for an event, marketing or editing job, see www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com and http://pelslaw.com/about/maria-l-olsen/

So excited for my son Chris Olsen who will tour with Meghan Trainor this fall! He made it big in social media (TikTok’s International Creator of the Year), but also is classically trained in voice, dance and acting from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. I should also give credit the wonderful performing arts places at which he trained, like Stagedoor Manor, Imagination Stage, Inc., Adventure Theater in Glen Echo Park, my alma mater Academy of the Holy Cross' semiprofessional Summer Stock Theater program, Broadway Artists Alliance, and the singing and acting he did at St. Albans School (D.C.) and Blessed Sacrament School in Washington, DC, as well as the wonderful arts teachers who instructed and encouraged him, like Kirsten McKinney, Katie Myer and Susan Derry.  At age 26, who knows where his career will lead him! (Hopefully, Broadway, which has been his dream since he was a little boy!) So excited! Tickets go on sale this week! #chrisolsen #meghantrainor #proudmama

Maria Olsen

"Rewriting the Story of Life After Fifty" - join us in May to reimagine and create your's.  This time of your life can be the most meaningful and exciting chapter.

Are you curious?  Come celebrate life with us!

This panel discussion is just one of the inspiring experiences you'll share (in person!) at QUEST 2024 — a gathering and celebration for women 50+, May 6 & 7 in Bristol, Rhode Island.
-  You'll hear from five passionate women who've dedicated their lives to changing the way we and the world feel about aging.  Women who focus their endless energy on helping us take action to embrace and chase life's possibilities.  

Our Moderator: 
Barbara Brooks, Chief Inspiration Officer, Founder, ProAge Speaker, SecondActWomen

Panelists: 
- Melissa Davey,  Documentary filmmaker who created "Beyond Sixty" and the soon to be released film,  "Climbing Into Life."
- Janine Vanderburg, Founder and Senior Strategist at Changing the Narrative, with over three decades of experience in community and social change. 
- Maria Olsen, Author of "Fifty After Fifty."  She practices law as a commercial litigator, is an author, podcaster , journalist, TEDx speaker, book marketing coach for female authors, and mentor to women in recovery. 
-  Jacqueline (Jack) Perez,  Founder of Kuel Life in 2017.  She champions change, redefining modern midlife for women through curated content and women-driven brands.

Come away with us for two beautiful days in May - LINK IN COMMENTS TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP — (limited to 100 and more than half-way there!)

Quest 2024, an annual gathering and celebration for women 50+, May 6 & 7 in Bristol, Rhode Island, is going to be magical.

* Scholarships available - email me diana@thirdactquest.com
   

Excited to be a presenter at Quest 2024 by Diana Place's Third Act Quest, a celebration and gathering for women 50+ this May near Newport, Rhode Island! Diana asked the Quest 2024 speakers to each share a "bumper sticker" that captures the essence of our life's philosophy in this stage of our lives. For my 60th year, my slogan is "If I am too much energy, please go find less." I will no longer tamp down who I am and who I want to be. I am finally free! Here is a video montage that the talented Lisa Arnold Photography put together of our affirmations, mantras and declarations:  https://lnkd.in/eSzfVZCe Enjoy! To join us or learn more:  #QUEST2024 #333collective #fiftyafter50 #60after60 #becomingyourbestversionpodcast #thirdact #womenempoweringwomen #womensupportingwomen #womeninmidlife #midlifejourney 

Pels Law attorney Maria Olsen is a member of Phi Delta Phi, the oldest legal organization in continuous existence in the United States, predating even the American Bar Association. It is an international legal society founded in 1869 to foster scholarship, civility, and ethical conduct in the legal profession. Phi Delta Phi is considered among the world's most prestigious professional organizations. It promotes the highest standard of ethics and professionalism in law schools and the legal profession. Phi Delta Phi celebrates academic excellence and embraces the finest attributes of professionalism and scholarship. Maria was selected as a law student in 1986 at the University of Virginia School of Law for having "shown [herself] companionable [and to have] manifested ability and industry in legal study. Integrity, service, and excellence in all facets of human experience are considered factors for membership." With a total membership of more than 200,000 people, members of Phi Delta Phi include five U.S. presidents, two U.S. vice presidents, 14 Supreme Court justices, and numerous members of Congress, Cabinet members, and ambassadors. All members of the Pels Law firm demonstrate the highest ethical standards in the profession, led first and foremost by our founder and managing attorney, Jon D. Pels. 

Virginia Cover (Ginnie) has worked throughout her career with children and adults with complex medical conditions and developmental disabilities. She is an advocate for those with disabilities and their families and published a widely read guidebook for those affected by X and Y chromosome variations. She explores the impact of a prenatal diagnosis on a young family in her new book, Supplemental Needs: A Novel. Ginnie became a “special needs parent” when her younger son was diagnosed prenatally with 47,XXY, also known as Klinefelter syndrome. Although sex chromosome aneuploidy is more common than Down syndrome, it is recognized and properly diagnosed in fewer than 25% of the affected population. She became a passionate advocate for families affected by disabilities and provides educational programs for families and professionals who work with this population.

Her guidebook, Living with Klinefelter Syndrome, Trisomy X, and 47,XYY, has helped thousands of people grow their understanding of this condition, provides clear explanations of the genetics involved, as well as diagnosis, disclosure, development from infancy through potential health and fertility issues, and educational and psycho-social considerations. She believes it is equally important for literature to cover the emotional impact that prenatal testing has on parents, while also improving early identification of X and Y chromosome conditions. She felt this could only be done through the sharing of stories. Her goal in writing the novel was to explore the impact of a prenatal genetic diagnosis on a young family who decides to continue a pregnancy despite a medical geneticist’s advice.

Supplemental Needs: A Novel portrays a young family whose lives change on learning through prenatal genetic diagnosis that their baby will have Klinefelter syndrome, most likely causing some degree of disability, as well as infertility and possible sexuality issues. Supplemental Needs incorporates accurate information and creates needed conversation around what we each believe about continuing a pregnancy where there may be some level of disability, or when there may be a slightly elevated rate of homosexuality, or of gender dysphoria. Readers gain greater awareness and understanding about the parental experience of when a child is not following a typical developmental trajectory, familiarizing the public with sex chromosome aneuploidy in a non-sensational manner.

Ginnie lives in the Washington, D.C. area. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. 

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts (please review/subscribe) or wherever you get your podcasts:

https://lnkd.in/gMGJNdc

https://lnkd.in/ee_T9Zc4

Learn more: VirginiaCover.com
https://lnkd.in/ejZZY8D6

#becomingyourbestversionpodcast #virginiacover #supplementalneeds #KlinefelterSyndrome

Sweta Sansara, a Nepalese American woman, is a passionate advocate against the stigmas surrounding alcoholism, mental health, food addiction, and related issues. With 17 years of sobriety and profound personal healing, she is dedicated to sharing her journey to inspire and support others in their paths to mental wellness and holistic healing.

Sweta is the first person from Nepal to join the U.S. armed forces. She joined the U.S. Marines at age 18 and spent two and a half years serving the United States. She then studied theater and pursued an acting career in Los Angeles, while working at the tony Beverly Hills Hotel, attending Oscar parties, meeting Diana Ross, John Stamos, Stanley Tucci and other big names in the business, before feeling called to return to the east coast, where her immediate family resides.

Sweta shares the darkest parts of her journey and relatable experiences online that give thousands of people hope. She offers resources to those struggling with addiction, and will start her own podcast, Wild & Free in Recovery, in April 2024.

Sweta, who begins each day sitting in meditation, is raising two wonderful children in the Washington, DC area. She is the founder of the Nepal Youth Fund, which brings resources to schools in small villages of Nepal, and on whose board I serve. My life, and those of many others, are blessed having Sweta in their lives.

Listen (and please review/subscribe) on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts:

https://lnkd.in/gMGJNdc

https://lnkd.in/e4u79ZzU

Learn more at 
www.Sweta.com⁠

Follow Sweta at:
Instagram: @Sweta 
YouTube @SwetaSansara

Learn more about host Maria Leonard Olsen at www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com and follow her @FiftyAfter50 on social media.

#FiftyAfter50 #60after60 #BecomingYourBestVersionPodcast #Sweta #SwetaSansara #womenempoweringwomen #recovery #addiction #mentalhealth #womensupportingwomen #podcastsforwomen

I am honored to present at a virtual summit (while I am living in Istanbul!) on March 28 at 9:30 am CST.  March 28th and 29th, Chicago-based life coach Stephanie Bell, M.Ed. will host a two-day free virtual summit, called Embracing the Empty Nest: Proven Strategies to Break Through Stress and Live an Extraordinary Life!  During this live summit, Stephanie will interview 20 experts she chose to share their knowledge, tools and strategies with her viewers to help them navigate the empty nest phase of their lives.  The event is expected to have a reach of more than 100,000 people who want to know more about stress and burnout prevention and recovery.  Registration link:  https://lnkd.in/eDzfviau.  Join us! #EmbracingTheEmptyNest #womenempoweringwomen #womensupportingwomen #womeninmidlife #midlifewomen #midlifejourney #fiftyafter50 #60after60 #emptynest 

Join us for a free online empowering summit this week for women in midlife!

Ready to stop living a life that no longer serves you, and become the creator of your most authentic and fulfilling life yet?  

Introducing: "Boldly Her. Your Life. Your Way. Get True to You, So You can Create the Freedom to Live Authentically and Lead Fearlessly at 50+," an online virtual interview summit for women in Midlife who are ready to create the next chapter of your life that resonates with your soul, living out your life, career, interests, aligned with you as the CEO of your life.

My friend Linda Butler, MBA has brought together 20+ top experts and coaches, including myself, who over one week will be providing daily inspiration for you, with the cutting-edge tips and strategies necessary to create a second chapter where you can freely live in alignment with your authentic talents, skills and passions.  

The summit features an array of experts who are there to help you to reconnect to your authentic self, so you can create a more fulfilling second half of your life, on your terms. 

In this summit you will learn how to:

Identify and eliminate false or outdated beliefs about yourself, as well as your capabilities

Find freedom through authentic self-expression

Create your authentic leadership brand

Use your authentic talents and skills as superpowers

Tap into your intuition and inner wisdom

Create appropriate boundaries

Develop healthier lifestyle to support your goals

And much more!  Are you ready? 

Go to this link to sign up:  https://lnkd.in/eCSpMeHd

#boldlyherlife #womenempowerment #womeninmidlife #midlifewomen #womensupportingwomen #fiftyafter50 #60after60 #becomingyourbestversionpodcast #freewomenssummit 

Chwynyn Vaughan (pronounced “Quinin”) is a proponent of slow beauty and its benefits to our all-over physical, mental and spiritual health, and to skin health in particular. She has a background in midwifery, health care and design. A deep love for botanicals has woven its way through each of these experiences, enriching every step of her path.

These experiences, along with her passion for plants, led to Chwynyn blending wise woman wisdom and sound science to create handcrafted skin care products offered through her creation, Slow Botanicals. She believes that, when authentic, beauty can bring out the best of who we are, treating our body as a temple. Beauty, Chywnyn says, is linked to how we live our lives, and influenced by our spiritual and mental health.

Each of Chwynyn's products is made in small batches from botanicals she harvests in the wild and picks from her organic garden. To make the cut, botanicals included must heal and nourish sensitive, dry and aging skin. As these products are meant for the most sensitive of skin, the hand-picked flowers, leaves, mushrooms, lichens and seeds are combined only with the shortest list possible of pure ingredients. A lifetime of unhealthy care products alongside changing hormones make this essential for your health.

Chwynyn knows that healthy skin are not only dependent on what you put on your skin, and so she encourages the practice of slow beauty. Chwynyn says that "slow beauty is closely related to slow living. By making daily choices that stem from a slow beauty perspective, you will enjoy improved physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. Your days will feel better. You’ll appreciate yourself more." Slow living is creating a life based on what truly matters, noticing every moment with one's senses and inside the body, staying present and living with integrity, with a strong environmental outlook.

Chwynyn lives on a small peninsula in Washington State, just a short walk from both beach and forest, with her artist-husband and two children. Chwynyn grows around 95% of her family’s fruit and veggies for the entire year.

Chwynyn sells her pure botanically infused skin care products at ⁠slowbotanicals.com⁠. You will also find Chwynyn’s insights on slow beauty and skin care on her blog.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts (please subscribe/review) and more:

https://lnkd.in/gMGJNdc

https://lnkd.in/e2wHAg-6

Learn more:

Website: ⁠slowbotanicals.com⁠  ⁠https://lnkd.in/eQ5qKGXx⁠

Linkedin: ⁠https://lnkd.in/eQueqpBX⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://lnkd.in/eMBhCVqb⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://lnkd.in/eS6YN8Gq⁠ Pinterest: ⁠https://lnkd.in/epSf8GHF

#fiftyafter50 #60after60 #BecomingYourBestVersionPodcast #slowbotanicals #WomenSupportingWomen

Proud to be a Thought Leader for Kuellife.com, a vibrant community of women in midlife!  #fiftyafter50 #60after60 #kuellife #womeninmidlife #womensupportingwomen #positiveaging Jacqueline (Jack) Perez Kuel Life 

Excerpts from my latest piece for Meer magazine, which is based in Montenegro (where I sit at this particular moment!):

I enjoy a good steak and have been blessed to have eaten at some of the finest restaurants in the world. When visiting Argentina, I sampled what is considered by many to be the best steak on the planet.... 

The reasons for the superiority of Argentine beef include the grass fed to its free-roaming cows, unique beef cuts, and Asado cooking techniques. The best grazing area for the famed Argentine livestock is in Las Pampas, a mostly flat grassland with a temperate climate that yields nutritious grass. The cows in Las Pampas yield leaner, more flavorful, and healthier beef, free of antibiotics and growth hormones. American beef is often fed corn and grain, which is not the natural choice of diet for a bovine and which may lead to health problems. Argentine beef is reported to carry less risk of cholesterol or heart disease because of its more natural diet.
...
Asado cooking is similar to barbecuing, with important differences. Asado focuses on slightly smoking the meat and slowly cooking it on an open-fire grill, called a parrilla. Parillas are often made with volcanic stones or ceramic bricks that can resist high temperatures for hours. Black metal grills would not withstand the heat of Asado cooking. Argentinians eschew propane or gas, instead favoring wood or charcoal-fueled fires.
...
While one can order Argentine steak in many of the world’s fine restaurants and even have it shipped home by mail order, enjoying steak at an authentic parrilla is a singular experience. Restaurant Don Julio Parrilla Don Julio Steakhouse in Buenos Aires boasts the best steaks in the country. It was named Latin America’s Best Restaurant in 2020 (currently listed as number two) and one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants (in the nineteenth spot as of this writing). Reservations must be secured months in advance, but there is a standby line that forms a half hour or more before opening each day. Those in line are treated to champagne and tasty empanadas while they wait.
The wait is worth it. Don Julio’s service is impeccable, and the steaks do not disappoint. The outdoor patio is pleasant, and the indoor restaurant features hundreds of wine bottles on which messages of thanks are inscribed.
...
Some people maintain that you can cut Argentine steak with a spoon. So treat yourself to an Argentine steak, even if it is imported."

Source & full piece: https://lnkd.in/eHBXJ4AA
About Meer:  
“Meer is a media platform powered by the world's most brilliant minds.
Written in six languages
Updated daily
For independent thinkers”
https://lnkd.in/ePvMCi2a
#argentiniansteakhouse #argentina #fiftyafter50 #60after60 #remoteyear #travelistheonlythingyoubuythatmakesyouricher #pleasuresoffood #Meer #thepleasuresoffood

New podcast episode! Many adults today experience insecurity around water. Cori Myka addresses the underlying fears approximately half of adults have today about being in the water. She transforms adult non-swimmers from fearful beginners into confident achievers of their wildest aquatic aspirations. Featured on NPR and in USA Today, Cori is the founder of Calm Within Adult Swim and the creator of the Foundations of Change learning method. With more than two decades of experience, her unique approach to adult swimming lessons combines mental conditioning with physical skill mastery, resulting in highly acclaimed teaching methods. Cori's influence extends beyond the pool, shaping everyday lives. She helps students understand the difference between one's brain warnings and physiological needs.

Cori points out that during typical foundational swim lessons what is missing is how to understand how one's emotions may cause panic. Cori begins her swim lessons with the mental side of being comfortable in the water, which involves satisfying the brain that one is safe and coming back to a feeling of safety. She helps students create space between the mental idea of a problem and how one responds. She imparts her wisdom to students and instructors at Orca Swim School in Seattle, virtually and in person. 

Cori also offers personalized and tropical retreats, with the next one scheduled for Maui, Hawaii in September. Enter her drawing this Saturday for early bird enrollees by going to her website, below, for free gifts.
In this episode, Cori addresses, among other things, how 45% of people are afraid of the water, and what underlies this fear, as well as the role mindset plays in learning to swim. Cori maintains that it is never too late to start learning, and taking lessons can provide you with the confidence, safety, and ease you need to enjoy the water. Her lessons are specifically designed to cater to adult learners, taking into account their unique learning styles and abilities. Many of her clients are in their 70s, though she helps people of all ages learn how to enjoy the water. Maybe some listeners will learn how to participate with confidence in all the aquatic activities you used to sit out! 

Listen (please subscribe/review) on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:

https://lnkd.in/gMGJNdc

https://lnkd.in/eUKWMbjc

Learn more:
https://lnkd.in/eKkdUGUR
cori@orcaswimschool.com
Facebook: https://lnkd.in/evJPx2jP
Instagram: https://lnkd.in/eQki7nV2
LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/et_B4W8X
Twitter: https://lnkd.in/esUEkKaY
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/enb5WM5Z
Free Intro Class:
https://lnkd.in/ekyn25_w

#becomingyourbestversionpodcast #FiftyAfter50 #adultswimlesson

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