More Than Your Age
Ep. 125- Homeless at 15, Ringling Brothers Seamstress by 22, Missionary in India at 50 with Melanie Hutchinson
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains honest discussion of childhood abuse, addiction, suicidal ideation, sexual assault, and descriptions of violence against women and children witnessed during missions work abroad. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is available 24/7. At 15, Melanie Hutchinson ran away from an abusive home and ended up living on the streets and beaches of Florida. By 20, she was managing a halfway house. In her 40s, she survived a rape that upended her career as a costume designer for the ballet, circus, and opera — and turned her healing into a community stage play. At 50, she left everything behind to move to India, where a planned five-week mission trip turned into 12 years of running sewing and skills-training centers for women trapped by poverty, the caste system, and unimaginable violence. In this episode of the More Than Your Age podcast, Melanie shares her story with host Erica Pasvar — from a violent military household and a life-altering choice she made as a teenager, to an unexpected career as a self-taught seamstress for the circus and opera, to a decision at age 50 to leave everything behind for missions work in India. Along the way, she opens up about surviving trauma, finding faith in her darkest moment, and what she learned about herself while living in a culture completely different from her own. Now 70 and reflecting on her life while writing two books, Melanie offers hard-won wisdom for any woman who feels like her age or circumstances have closed the door on her next chapter. In this episode, we cover: Growing up in a violent, alcoholic household and running away at 15 Surviving on the streets of Florida during a turbulent era of school integration The night she planned to end her life — and the unexpected turning point that changed everything Getting clean, finding faith, and eventually managing a halfway house at just 20 years old Building an unexpected career as a self-taught seamstress for the circus, opera, and ballet Surviving a sexual assault and choosing to heal in community rather than in silence Writing and producing a play about healing after trauma Leaving everything behind at 50 to move to India for what was supposed to be a two-year mission trip Life inside India's caste system, and the realities facing women and girls there Confronting compassion fatigue and burnout after years of witnessing violence and tragedy What it actually means to help another culture — and why she had to unlearn her Western mindset Coming home after 12 years and adjusting to life as "a stranger in a strange land" in her own country Her encouragement for any woman who feels blocked by her age or life circumstances Join the More Than Your Age Facebook Community A space for women redefining what’s possible at every age. Connect with Erica Email // Facebook // Instagram // Linkedin // YouTube ***This Podcast is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission. *** Are you curious to learn the piano or want your kid to try it out before spending so much money on individual lessons? My son is loving this program! He’s been playing for a few months and I cannot tell you how INCREDIBLE his skills are this early. I’m impressed. Take a look here! So many of you want to improve your skills, take a new class, or improve your own abilities at work. Master Class has so many classes to get you to where you want to go. Check it out! Interested in learning a new language??? It’s not too late! Check out either program with Babbel or Rosetta Stone ! Don’t let another day go by without learning that new language! Visit The More Than Your Age Website and check out our new merch! www.morethanyourage.com Intro and Exit Music written and performed by Daniel Ging.
