Found at 40

In this mini season finale episode, I’m wrapping up season one of Found at 40 with a little gratitude, a little reflection, and a very real acknowledgment that summer with kids at home is not for the faint of heart. I’m looking back on how this podcast started, what this first season has taught me, and why conversations about midlife, identity, friendship, marriage, parenting, work, hormones, and reinvention still feel so needed. This episode is a pause, not a goodbye — a chance to close out season one, regroup for summer, and look ahead to the conversations coming in season two. More than anything, it’s a reminder that life really can begin at 40, and everything before this might just have been research. (0:00) ☀️ Why summer feels like the right time to wrap season one of Found at 40 (1:31) 💬 Why this podcast was always meant to feel more like a midlife group chat than a crisis (3:00) 🧭 The big midlife question: “Is this it?” — and why the answer might be more hopeful than we think (4:32) 🎧 A little preview of season two and what’s coming next

Writer, former TV sports anchor, and midlife storyteller Laura Behnke joins Found at 40 for a powerful conversation about what happens when life refuses to follow the timeline you had planned. Laura shares how she built a successful career while quietly grieving the life she thought she was supposed to have, including marriage, motherhood, and the pressure to be “on track.” This conversation also takes a very necessary turn into the bathroom stuff no one wants to talk about, which is exactly why we need to talk about it. Laura shares the symptom she kept explaining away, the colonoscopy she almost delayed, and why “it’s probably just hemorrhoids” is not a medical plan. It’s honest, funny, a little uncomfortable, and genuinely life-saving. In this episode: (0:00) ✨ Meeting Laura Behnke and the life that didn’t follow the script (1:00) 🕰️ The childhood timeline Laura thought she would follow (4:00) 💭 Why getting married at 38 and becoming a mom at 42 once felt impossible (7:00) 📺 Building a successful career in sports television while hiding her private pain (11:00) 🎯 The illusion of control in career, dating, and relationships (14:00) ⏳ The “social clock” and why so many women feel behind in life (20:00) 🌊 Turning 35, hitting a low point, and beginning to imagine a different future (25:00) 💕 Meeting her husband when she finally stopped forcing the timeline (30:00) 💔 Marriage, family loss, and the reality of layered grief (37:00) 🧬 IVF during grief, COVID shutdowns, and one miraculous embryo (42:00) 👶 Becoming a mother at 42 and grieving the life before motherhood (44:00) 🚩 The symptom Laura thought was “just hemorrhoids” (53:00) 🩺 The colonoscopy that changed everything (58:00) 📣 Rectal cancer, colorectal cancer awareness, and why we need to talk about poop (1:03:00) ✅ Colonoscopy screening, knowing your baseline, and the power of early detection (1:07:00) 🌱 The life you planned, the life you actually have, and finding meaning in the “actually” Find Laura at @laurabbehnke on Instagram or on her Substack, The Life Actually ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: later in life motherhood, motherhood at 40, motherhood at 42, IVF journey, infertility after 40, feeling behind in life, social clock, life timeline, midlife women, later love, dating in your 30s, grief and motherhood, rectal cancer symptoms, colorectal cancer awareness, colonoscopy screening

There is a question that so many women in midlife seem to be asking lately: “Do I have ADHD… or am I just completely overwhelmed?” Using a recent article about women receiving ADHD diagnoses in midlife as a jumping-off point, they talk through inattentive ADHD, hyperfocus, procrastination, emotional dysregulation, and the systems women build to keep life moving. Sarah shares what it was like growing up as a smart, energetic, often “spacey” kid whose ADHD traits were easy to miss, while Chrissi explores the difference between lifelong ADHD and the very midlife feeling of dysregulation– being scattered, overstimulated, and maxed out. It’s part sister conversation, part midlife brain audit, and part permission slip to ask a better question than “What’s wrong with my brain?” (0:00) 🧠 Why so many women are asking about ADHD in midlife (1:00) 📅 Maycember chaos, end-of-school-year overload, and the midlife mental load (3:00) 💉 PRP facials, aging, sister banter, and the ongoing “who’s older?” debate (7:00) 🦷 Sarah’s root canal, big test energy, and major life transitions (9:00) 📖 The article that sparked the conversation: women, ADHD diagnoses, and the systems that suddenly stop working (11:00) 🤸 Sarah’s childhood ADHD clues: constant movement, gifted programs, spacing out, and missed signs (13:00) 📝 Why inattentive ADHD in girls was so often overlooked (16:00) 🧺 When motherhood, work, and unpredictability overwhelm even the best coping systems (18:00) 🎯 Hyperfocus, changing majors, “going off vibes,” and wondering what could have been different (21:00) ⏰ Procrastination, urgency, adrenaline, and the crash after getting everything done (24:00) 🎓 Former gifted girls, anxiety, ADHD, and the shame of feeling smart but stuck (26:00) ☕ Caffeine, ADHD medication, and what it feels like when a noisy brain finally quiets down (28:00) 🛒 The grocery list spiral: when one simple task turns into a full life reorganization (31:00) 🌪️ ADHD vs. dysregulation: feeling scattered, overwhelmed, overstimulated, or unable to function (33:00) 🔊 Emotional, sensory, and behavioral dysregulation in midlife (36:00) 🚪 Reducing input, setting boundaries, and the “unless there’s fire or blood” rule (38:00) 🫶 Lowering the shame and asking what your brain actually needs (40:00) 🐅 The tiger-in-captivity question, summer survival, kids’ phones, and midlife brain management (43:00) 💬 Final thoughts for ADHD women, dysregulated women, and everyone whose brain is following side quests Link to The Cut Article Link to Liz Moody podcast episode on ADHD and dysregulation ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 SEO keywords: ADHD in women, ADHD in midlife, women with ADHD, inattentive ADHD, ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, midlife women, perimenopause and ADHD, emotional dysregulation, sensory overload, executive function, ADHD paralysis, hyperfocus, procrastination, mental load, overwhelmed moms, women’s mental health, anxiety and ADHD, adult ADHD, Found at 40 podcast

This week on Found at 40 , Chrissi and Sarah are sharing what they’re loving, learning, and loathing in midlife—because life after 40 is equal parts growth, monotony, reinvention, and “are we really doing this again?” moments. From small personal wins to bigger mindset shifts, they talk about how to feel less stuck, more present, and actually enjoy your life in your 40s. They dive into the “Novelty Rule” (and how to make time feel slower and more meaningful), why so many of us feel behind in midlife, and how stress can completely shut down your creativity and decision-making. Plus: travel highs, sister stories, and the things currently testing their patience—including the housing market and some necessary rage toward unacceptable male behavior. (0:00) 🎙️ Welcome back + midlife catch-up with sisters (1:00) ✈️ Two Truths and a Lie—and a surprising win (4:00) 👶 Parenting then vs. now and how things have changed (6:00) 📖 Discovering poetry in your 40s and unexpected inspiration (8:00) 🤔 Feeling behind in life and midlife timeline pressure (11:00) 👏 Self-worth, confidence, and letting go of outside validation (12:00) 🌴 Virgin Islands trip: travel, snorkeling, and unforgettable moments (16:00) 🧠 The Novelty Rule: how to make life feel slower and more meaningful (19:00) 🔄 Breaking routines and escaping midlife autopilot (20:00) 😵‍💫 Stress, burnout, and the “freeze” response explained (23:00) 🔥 What we’re loathing: unacceptable behavior from certain men in Congress (30:00) 🏡 The housing market, finances, and why adulting feels harder than ever Learn more about The Novelty Rule on the Liz Moody Podcast ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: midlife podcast, life after 40, women in their 40s, midlife reset, feeling stuck in life, how to stop feeling behind, novelty rule, how to make life more exciting, midlife burnout, stress and freeze response, personal growth podcast, self improvement for women, confidence in your 40s, reinvention in midlife, routines vs novelty, making life feel meaningful, housing market struggles, adulting in your 40s, sister podcast, relatable podcast for women

If your brain has been running the same exhausting loops—overthinking, second-guessing, telling you you’re behind—this episode is going to feel like a reset. I’m joined by life coach Ashley Molitor, who helps women unlearn the BS stories that keep them stuck, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves. We get into the patterns, limiting beliefs, and midlife mindset shifts that quietly run the show—and how to finally break free from them. If you’ve ever felt like you know what needs to change but can’t seem to do it, this conversation will hit. (0:00) 🔄 The “spinning wheel of death” in your brain—midlife overthinking explained (2:00) 🎯 What a life coach actually does (and how it helps you break patterns faster) (5:00) 🧠 Why your brain resists change—and keeps you stuck in the same cycles (7:30) 📖 Limiting beliefs: the stories you didn’t choose but keep living by (10:30) ⏳ “I’ll focus on me later”—why that mindset never works (12:30) 🗓️ Living on autopilot: busy, overwhelmed, and disconnected from your values (15:30) 🤝 Motherhood, burnout & why asking for help is the real power move (18:30) ⚖️ Body image, negative self-talk & separating facts from the story (21:30) 🔁 The patterns you don’t realize you have (relationships, habits & self-sabotage) (25:00) ❓ The questions you’re asking yourself that keep you stuck (30:00) 🔥 How to identify patterns by looking at results you don’t like (34:00) 😵 Post-interaction spiraling & how to stop overanalyzing everything (38:30) ✨ Letting go of “shoulds” and rewriting the story you actually want Follow Ashley on Instagram at @ashleylmolitor and or visit her website at https://www.ashleymolitor.com ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: midlife overthinking, limiting beliefs, self-sabotage, breaking patterns, mindset for women, life coach Ashley Molitor, feeling stuck in midlife, negative self-talk, body image, boundaries, emotional health, personal growth for women, midlife reset, confidence, self-trust

After divorce, heartbreak, and nearly 20 years in a marriage that ultimately wasn’t right, Sarah is sharing the full story of how she found love again in midlife—and knew this relationship was different. In this episode, we talk honestly about dating after divorce, learning to trust your intuition, recognizing green flags, and why finding love in your 40s can actually be better than the first time around. Plus, Sarah shares the wildly sweet engagement story that had me secretly wearing a wig in public like a low-budget spy. If you’re navigating dating in your 40s, healing after divorce, or wondering if healthy love is still out there for you… this one is for you. (0:00) 🌴 Spring break adventures, capybara encounters, and why St. Augustine unexpectedly delivered (3:00) 👽 Our latest family obsession: Project Hail Mary , aliens, and audiobook recommendations (5:00) 💍 Sarah officially announces she’s engaged—and adjusting to fiancé life (7:00) 💔 Rewinding the clock: life after the end of a 19-year marriage and starting over after divorce (9:00) ❤️‍🩹 Dating after divorce, rebuilding confidence, and why jumping in too fast can happen (10:00) 🚩 “Where’s the bag of hair?” — the hilarious dating metaphor for hidden red flags in midlife dating courtesy of the movie Fever Pitch with Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon (13:00) 💚 The unexpected green flags that made Sarah realize this relationship felt different (15:00) 🧠 Chemistry vs. compatibility: what actually matters in long-term relationships (17:00) 🏡 What 19 years of marriage taught Sarah about what she truly needs in a partner (19:00) 🕵️ Behind-the-scenes of the engagement setup, ring recon, and my accidental secret-agent role (24:00) 🎶 The proposal night: how the surprise engagement actually unfolded at the Cannons concert (28:00) 😂 Why I was hiding in a Velma-esque wig and secretly filming the whole thing (34:00) ✨ Why finding love in your 40s can be better than finding it in your 20s (35:00) 🧭 Dating after divorce advice: trusting your intuition, listening to your body, and not ignoring warning signs (44:00) 💕 The biggest lessons Sarah learned about healthy love, emotional safety, and knowing when it’s right ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40

If you’ve ever looked at your life and thought, “wait… this isn’t what I planned,” this episode will hit close to home—in the best way. Today, I’m joined by Jess Prudhomme for a deeply honest conversation about what it really looks like to navigate life when things don’t go as expected. We talk about identity shifts, starting over, and the quiet (and sometimes painful) process of finding your way back to yourself. If you’re feeling lost, stuck, or like you’ve outgrown your life, this one will remind you—you’re not alone, and you’re not off track. (0:00) 🎙️ Meet Jess Prudhomme + the moment you realize life isn’t going as planned (3:00) 🧭 The subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs you’ve outgrown your life (6:00) 💔 When everything starts shifting—relationships, identity, and direction (9:00) 🧠 The internal spiral: feeling lost, confused, and disconnected from yourself (13:00) 🔄 The idea of a “life detour” and why it’s not what we think (17:00) ⚖️ Letting go of the life you planned vs. clinging to what feels safe (21:00) 🧩 Identity unraveling: who am I if I’m not this version of myself? (25:00) 🚪 The moment things start to crack open (even if it doesn’t feel like it yet) (29:00) 🌱 Healing isn’t linear—what growth actually looks like in real life (33:00) 🗣️ Learning to trust your intuition again after big life changes (37:00) 🔍 The difference between alignment, avoidance, and starting over (41:00) 💡 What “finding yourself again” really means (and what it doesn’t) (45:00) ✨ Small shifts that begin the road back to yourself (48:00) 🤍 The unexpected gifts hidden inside life not going to plan Follow Jess on Instagram at @thegreatdetour and listen to her podcast, The Great Detour, or visit her website at thegreatdetour.com ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 finding yourself again, feeling lost in life, life doesn’t go as planned, starting over, identity crisis, personal growth, healing journey, trusting yourself, life transitions, burnout, self discovery, women’s personal development, reinventing yourself, emotional healing, life changes

Perimenopause has entered the chat—and most of us were never given the manual. In this episode, I sit down with therapist and author Lauren Tetenbaum to unpack what’s actually happening in our bodies during perimenopause and menopause, and why so many women feel blindsided by it. This conversation is equal parts validating, eye-opening, and surprisingly empowering. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this normal?”—this episode is for you. We talk symptoms, hormones, identity shifts, and what it really looks like to prepare for this next phase of life—without fear, shame, or misinformation. (0:00) 🎙️ Why perimenopause feels like it came out of nowhere for so many women (4:00) 🤯 The early symptoms of perimenopause you might be missing (and mislabeling) (7:00) 🧠 Brain fog, mood swings & anxiety—what’s actually happening hormonally (11:00) 🔄 Why your body suddenly feels “off” (and why it’s not in your head) (15:00) 🩺 The biggest gaps in women’s health education around menopause (19:00) 📉 Hormones explained simply: what’s dropping, shifting, and why it matters (23:00) 😩 Sleep issues, irritability & burnout—how they’re all connected (27:00) 💬 The emotional side of perimenopause no one talks about (31:00) 🔥 Libido, relationships & identity changes in midlife (35:00) 🧴 What actually helps: treatment options, lifestyle shifts & support (39:00) 📚 Inside Millennial Menopause —why this guide is different (43:00) 🧩 How to advocate for yourself with doctors (and what to ask for) (47:00) 🌱 Reframing menopause as a transition—not a decline (51:00) ✨ What women in their 30s and 40s should know now to feel prepared Follow Lauren on Instagram at @thecounselaur ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40

If you’ve ever thought, “I want a village… but also I don’t want to leave my house,” this episode is going to feel uncomfortably relatable—in the best way. Today I’m joined by writer, speaker, and educator Brooke Romney, whose words about community, connection, and showing up have sparked conversations everywhere. In this honest, witty, and thought-provoking conversation, we dig into why so many of us are craving deeper friendships and real community—while also protecting our time, guarding our energy, and avoiding anything inconvenient. We talk about what modern life is getting right (hello, convenience) and what it might be quietly costing us, the invisible work that actually holds communities together, and why the little things we tend to dismiss might be the exact things that create the connection we’re looking for. (0:00) 🎙️ Meet Brooke Romney + why this conversation about community matters now (6:00) 💬 The viral post that sparked a bigger conversation about connection (7:00) 🧠 “If we only do what we enjoy… who does the rest?” (10:00) 🔄 What shifted from “protect your peace” to craving real community (13:00) 📱 Convenience culture, screen time, and why life feels lonelier (16:00) 🧩 The invisible work that quietly holds communities together (19:00) 🚨 The bystander effect—and why people don’t step up (24:00) ⚖️ People-pleasing vs. true community (a powerful reframe) (28:00) ✨ Why things that don’t spark joy often lead to deeper fulfillment (34:00) 🏡 What it actually means to “be a villager” in real life (37:00) 😓 When you feel like you’re the only one showing up (44:00) 🌱 Simple, realistic ways to start building connection today Follow Brooke on Instagram at @brookeromneywrites ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40

If you’ve ever wondered how to make friends in your 40s, how to parent a teenager without losing authority, or what to do when you don’t know what you’re doing with your life —this episode is for you. In this first-ever advice episode of Found at 40 , Chrissi is joined by her sister Sarah to answer real listener questions about friendship in adulthood, marriage communication, parenting teens, identity in midlife, and navigating major life transitions after 40. This conversation covers everything from how long it actually takes to build deep friendships as an adult, to what to do when your spouse wants something you’re not comfortable with, to how to approach difficult relationships with parents—even in your 40s. They also unpack midlife career confusion, rediscovering yourself after years of motherhood, and the emotional transition of your child graduating and leaving home. If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or like you “should have it figured out by now,” this episode offers honest, practical, and relatable advice for navigating midlife with more clarity, confidence, and self-trust. (0:00) 🎙️ Advice episode kickoff: unfiltered, real-life advice for midlife women (2:00) 💔 Divorce, healing, and rebuilding your life in your 40s (5:00) 🍝 Parenting, family life, and redefining “normal” experiences for your kids (10:00) 🤝 How to make friends in your 40s and build real adult friendships (12:00) ⏳ How long it takes to form deep friendships (and why it feels so hard) (14:00) 🔁 Simple habits that turn acquaintances into close friends (16:00) 🔥 Marriage communication: what to do when partners want different things sexually (20:00) 🧭 Midlife identity crisis: “I don’t know what to do with my life” (25:00) 📱 Reconnecting with yourself: boredom, phone habits, and self-discovery (27:00) 🛍️ Midlife confidence and style: when to invest in yourself (yes, even leggings) (29:00) 💡 Life lessons by 40: stress, money, and what actually matters (30:00) 👩‍👧 Parenting teens: boundaries, trust, and staying the parent—not the friend (34:00) 😬 Difficult parent relationships: setting boundaries and communicating with confidence (40:00) 🎓 Kids leaving home: navigating identity, grief, and the empty nest transition (41:00) ❤️ Friendship in your 40s: what qualities matter most now ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40

If your body has changed, your confidence has taken a hit, and getting dressed feels way more emotional than it used to, this episode is for you. In this conversation, Chrissi sits down with Jenna Rohlfing to talk about midlife body changes, body confidence, mid-size fashion, autoimmune weight gain, style after body changes, people-pleasing, self-worth, and how to feel like yourself again. Jenna shares how Hashimoto’s, inflammation, aging, and identity shifts affected the way she saw herself — and how she began rebuilding confidence from the inside out. This is an honest, funny, deeply relatable conversation about midlife confidence, body image, getting dressed in a changing body, and learning to stop waiting for the “goal body” to start living your life. (0:00) 👖 Midlife body changes, low confidence, and why getting dressed can suddenly feel like a full emotional event. (2:00) 📱 The Instagram post that connected Chrissi and Jenna — and how Jenna built a platform around mid-size fashion, body confidence, and helping women feel more like themselves again. (5:00) 🎙️ Jenna’s unexpected path from speech language pathologist to content creator — and how honesty, style, and confidence became the heart of her work. (7:00) 👖 “Why are my jeans mad at me?” The body-change season that changed everything, and the identity spiral so many women quietly understand. (9:00) 🩺 Unexplained symptoms, frustrating assumptions, and the Hashimoto’s diagnosis that finally gave context to Jenna’s autoimmune weight gain and inflammation. (12:00) 🌿 Hashimoto’s, inflammation, stress, diet changes, strength training, and the lifestyle shifts Jenna had to make when her body stopped responding the way it used to. (16:00) 💭 The mindset shift that helped Jenna start rebuilding body confidence — and why confidence starts long before the outfit does. (19:00) 🛍️ Buying the pants that fit, letting go of the number on the tag, and why women’s sizing deserves its own public apology. (24:00) 👗 Style after body changes: body shape, trends, mid-size fashion, and the difference between “this doesn’t work for me” and “something is wrong with me.” (26:00) 🚫 People-pleasing, approval, and how midlife confidence gets stronger when you stop outsourcing your worth to everyone else. (32:00) 👯‍♀️ A mean girl moment, online visibility, and what it looks like to handle criticism differently in your 40s. (38:00) 🎉 Why turning 40 can feel surprisingly freeing — and how aging can bring a new kind of confidence, self-trust, and clarity. (40:00) 🧺 Practical confidence tips: stop dressing for the goal body, clean up your social media feed, and rethink what actually helps you feel good in your clothes. (43:00) 💛 Body image, daughters, aging, a Schitt's Creek moment, and a rapid-fire ending full of influencer-life chaos and fun. Follow Jenna on Instagram and TikTok at @jennaleighstl ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40

Midlife can feel like a Monica Geller closet—stuffed with “shoulds,” mental load, and expectations you’ve been carrying for years. In this episode of Found at 40, Chrissi sits down with Rachel Nielson from the podcast Three in 30 Takeaways for Moms to take the core principles of decluttering and apply them to midlife overwhelm, identity shifts, motherhood pressure, and self-trust. You’ll learn how to sort what’s weighing you down, edit the roles that no longer fit, and make room for more joy—without overhauling your entire life. #midlifedecluttered (0:00) 🎙️ Rachel Nielson joins + why midlife questions are more common than we think (4:00) 🧠 The “Monica Geller closet” metaphor for mental load + overwhelm (6:00) 🔄 Identity shifts in your 40s: feeling grateful and still feeling “off” (10:00) ✨ The surprising theme of midlife: acceptance, confidence, and self-trust (12:00) 📝 Step 1—Inventory: the brain-dump that stops overwhelm from running the show (15:00) 🧺 Motherhood “shoulds” you didn’t realize you were carrying (and why they’re exhausting) (18:00) 🧬 Midlife wellness pressure: when “self-care” turns into another checklist (21:00) ✂️ Step 2—Edit: deciding what expectations still fit you now (23:00) 🎮 Parenting pivots: releasing the “I thought I’d be this kind of mom” story (27:00) ⚖️ Acceptance vs. resignation: how to tell the difference in midlife (30:00) 📸 The photo moment that reframes aging and body changes (36:00) 🌈 Step 3—Make room for joy: what comes after you declutter your mind (40:00) 🛼 Joy experiments + hobbies: trying things without being good at them first (44:00) 🧱 The belief Rachel decluttered: what a “good mom” is allowed to want (50:00) 💛 Final takeaways: the small shifts that make midlife feel lighter Follow Rachel and the 3 in 30 podcast on Instagram at @3in30podcast Access Rachel’s Motherhood Decluttered Course here and use code FOUND40 for 40% off! ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: midlife decluttered, midlife crisis, reinventing yourself at 40, finding yourself again, mental load, motherhood mental load, decluttering your mind, midlife overwhelm, identity in midlife, self trust, boundaries, burnout recovery, nervous system, personal growth for women, women in their 40s

What does it actually look like to find yourself again in midlife —without pressure, perfection, or a full life overhaul? In this episode of Found at 40, Chrissi talks with Leila Howell of My Kind of Glow about identity loss in motherhood, realistic wellness, nervous system regulation, and the small habits that help you feel like yourself again. Leila shares how one deeply relatable “gentle glow-up” reel went viral, and why her message resonated with so many women in their 40s. If you’ve been feeling invisible, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself, this conversation is the reset you didn’t know you needed. (0:00) ✨ Chrissi shares why Leila’s “gentle glow-up” message hit such a nerve for so many women in midlife (3:00) 🎥 Leila tells the story behind the reel that went viral—and what was happening in real life when she posted it (5:00) 🌍 Leila opens up about moving between Australia and Seattle, raising kids, and navigating a major life transition (8:00) 🎨 How she went from graphic designer to stay-at-home mom to content creator (without planning for any of it) (10:00) 💥 The moment she realized the typical “glow-up” content wasn’t what she—or other women—actually needed (12:00) 👻 They talk about identity loss in motherhood and that quiet midlife feeling of “Where did I go?” (15:00) 🪞 Leila explains what a real midlife glow-up means to her—and why it’s more about self-trust than self-improvement (19:00) 📱 What it felt like to suddenly grow an audience of women who deeply related to her message (23:00) 🔁 A conversation about tiny habits, momentum, and how to start feeling better when life already feels full (27:00) 🧳 Leila shares the emotional side of moving countries, reverse culture shock, and starting over with young kids (31:00) 🎨 They get into perfectionism, creativity, and why being “bad” at something can actually be healing (38:00) 🫶 Pillar 1: Leila shares what body respect looks like in midlife (without diet-culture energy) (40:00) 🌿 Pillar 2: Why nervous system regulation comes before almost everything else (42:00) 🥗 Pillar 3: What realistic wellness looks like when you’re tired, busy, and in a full season of life (44:00) 💛 Pillar 4: How self-trust gets rebuilt in small, everyday choices (46:00) 🚰 Pillar 5: The “life-supporting habits” approach that helps things feel doable (not overwhelming) (48:00) 🎉 Final Four favorites, funny moments, and what Leila feels she’s truly found after 40 (58:00) 📅 A preview of Leila’s “My Kind of Glow Reset” and the small-steps challenge she’s launching next Follow Leila on Instagram and TikTok at @mykindofglow_ and stay tuned for her 28 Day Small Steps Guide. ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: midlife reinvention, finding yourself again, midlife glow up, identity loss in motherhood, motherhood and identity, women over 40 wellness, nervous system regulation, realistic self care, self trust in midlife, midlife burnout recovery, gentle habits for women, Atomic Habits for moms, perimenopause wellness habits, starting over at 40, midlife reset for moms

Middle school can feel like emotional whiplash—one minute your kid wants you close, the next you’re getting an eye roll and attitude that makes you wonder, "What is going on?" In this episode, Chrissi sits down with Instagram’s favorite middle school parent coach Bridget KerMorris to unpack what’s really happening beneath the mood swings, disrespect, and constant tech tension—and how parents can stay steady without becoming permissive. You’ll hear why the parent-child relationship is one of the most protective factors in the tween/teen years, plus a practical framework for responding with calm authority (even when you’re triggered). If you’re parenting middle schoolers—especially if big feelings, ADHD, or neurodivergence are part of the picture—this conversation will help you feel more connected, more confident, and less like you’re living inside a daily power struggle. (1:05) 🎙️ Meet Bridget KerMorris: attorney, therapist + parent coach + mom of seven raising middle schoolers in real time (3:20) 😬 Why parents dread middle school—and how to turn down the heat at home (6:10) 🧠 The most protective factor for tweens + teens: the parent-child relationship (and why it’s not “soft”) (8:05) 🧭 Authority vs. authoritarian: how to hold boundaries without constant power struggles (10:45) 🧩 Trauma + meaning-making: why what you say (or don’t say) after hard moments matters (12:40) 📱 Tech rules, phones, Snapchat: how to set limits without your kid hearing “I don’t trust you” (14:20) 🛑 Pillar 1: The Update Method: how to pause when you’re triggered so you can respond (not react) (18:00) 🤝 Pillar 2: Accessible, Responsive, Engaged—what secure attachment looks like in middle school (23:55) 🍉 The “little things” that build connection fast (and why kids never forget them) (25:30) 🔁 Pillar 3: Repair: teaching accountability + relationship skills after conflict (27:10) 💡 Pillar 4: Curious relational parenting: helping kids understand their inner world (before adulthood) (30:40) 🧠 Parenting neurodivergent middle schoolers: rejection sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, and what helps (37:10) 🌪️ When your kid is constantly moody: how to get back to neutral ground as a family (42:10) 🧱 Containment + kindness: addressing eye rolls & disrespect without becoming permissive (48:15) 🗂️ Free guide + Stay Close cards: daily conversation prompts that help your tween open up (51:45) 🎶 Fun wrap: concerts, celeb look-alike, and what Bridget has “found” in her forties Follow Bridget on Instagram at @bridget.parentcoach and get your free guide here: 50 Ways I’m Staying Closer to My Middle Schooler ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: Parenting middle schoolers, middle school parenting tips, how to stay connected to your tween, tween mood swings, handling disrespect from tweens, how to respond when your child is rude, connection-based parenting, attachment-focused parenting, building secure attachment with teens, repairing after a parent-child conflict, setting boundaries with tweens, screen time limits for middle schoolers, phone boundaries for tweens and teens, parenting a neurodivergent child (ADHD/autism), parenting strategies for tweens and teens.

Why does adult friendship feel so much harder than it used to — even when nothing is “wrong”? In this episode, Chrissi and her sister Sarah unpack why loneliness, disconnection, and friendship confusion are so common in midlife, especially for women navigating busy schedules, shifting priorities, and changing seasons of life. They explore how modern life quietly reshaped the way we connect — and why feeling lonely isn’t a personal failure. If you’ve ever wondered why friendship feels emotional, awkward, or exhausting in adulthood, this conversation will help you feel seen, validated, and less alone. (0:00) ❄️ A cold-weather catch-up and why everyday conversation still matters (5:00) 🧠 Texting tone, all-caps conflict, and how adult relationships misread intention (9:00) 🤝 Why adult friendship feels heavier — and why so many women quietly struggle (12:00) 📉 The loneliness statistics that reveal a major cultural shift (16:00) ☕ The loss of “third spaces” and how modern life fractured community (20:00) 🧸 Parenting stages, aging kids, and the disappearance of built-in friendships (24:00) 🎧 Feeling isolated in public — even when we’re surrounded by people (28:00) ❤️ The Harvard study that reframes happiness, health, and relationships (31:00) 🌱 “Medium friends” — why they matter, where they fit, and why they’re confusing (35:00) 🧭 Wanting to show up without overstepping — and why silence can hurt more (40:00) 🔄 Friendship bandwidth, emotional energy, and shrinking circles in midlife (45:00) 🛒 Reimagining friendship through errand friends, shared activities, and low-pressure connection (48:00) ✨ Final reflections on effort, vulnerability, and what adult friendship really needs ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: adult friendship, loneliness in adulthood, making friends in midlife, female friendship in midlife, why adult friendship is hard, feeling lonely even with friends, modern loneliness epidemic, friendship after 40, losing friends as an adult, third spaces and community, rebuilding friendships in adulthood, emotional labor in friendships, friendship circles and bandwidth, medium friends vs close friends, connection and belonging in midlife

What happens when the life you carefully planned unravels — and you realize that it’s time to rebuild a completely new life? In this episode, Chrissi sits down with lifelong friend Melissa Griffiths (who is also the creator of the food blog Bless This Mess) to unpack a bold midlife pivot, from leaving a dream life behind to starting fresh across the country. Their conversation explores reinvention, resilience, family, community, and the messy magic of choosing change on purpose. (0:00) 🎙️ Why chosen life pivots can feel scarier than unexpected ones (2:00) ❄️ From Southern Utah sunshine to snowy Northern Vermont (5:00) 🏡 Building a dream life with full confidence it would last forever (8:00) ⚠️ When comfort turns complicated — early signs of change (11:00) 💔 A major family business shift that changes everything (15:00) 🧠 Navigating betrayal, grief, stress, and emotional overwhelm (19:00) 🚚 Searching the country for a new future — and landing on Vermont (23:00) 🏫 Moving kids, switching schools, and adjusting as a family (28:00) 🌱 Grieving the old life while building a new one (33:00) 🧘‍♀️ Nervous system healing, health shifts, and slowing down (39:00) 🔄 Midlife reinvention, identity changes, and redefining success (46:00) 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Friendship, community, marriage, and intentional living (52:00) ✨ Advice for anyone at a crossroads — courage, connection, and what’s next Follow Melissa (and her new Vermont life!) at @blessthismessblog or discover your favorite new recipe at her blog Bless This Mess ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: midlife reinvention, major life pivot, starting over at 40, life plan falling apart, midlife career change, family relocation story, moving across the country with kids, redefining success in midlife, healing after major life change, building a new life after loss, resilience in midlife, intentional living at 40, personal growth through change, navigating identity shifts, finding community after a fresh start

Feeling behind in life can feel personal — but spoiler alert: it’s probably not just you. In this episode of Found at 40 , Chrissi sits down with Kaley Esselborn to unpack why so many of us feel “off track,” how the psychology of the social clock messes with our confidence, and why outdated life timelines still have way too much influence. Together, they dive into comparison culture, shifting expectations across decades, resilience through life curveballs, and how to finally trust your own pace — without sprinting to keep up with someone else’s timeline. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “behind,” “late,” or somehow doing life wrong, this episode will leave you feeling seen, validated, and a whole lot more confident in your own timeline. (0:00) 🎙️ Why feeling behind in life is more common than we admit (4:45) 💭 Where timeline pressure begins and how it takes root (7:15) ⏳ The psychology of the social clock and why it impacts self-worth (12:15) 👀 How culture, community, and upbringing shape life expectations (16:45) 🧩 Reflecting on growing up with a “life script” (21:15) 📱 Comparison culture, highlight reels, and the illusion of falling behind (26:15) 🎬 A surprising pop-culture metaphor for reclaiming personal power (31:50) 💡 Listener submissions: When did you feel life you were behind? (38:45) ⏰ A look at your 20’s: Breaking down the social clock by decade (44:30) 🛠️ A look at your 30’s: Breaking down the social clock by decade (48:40) 🧠A look at your 30’s: Breaking down the social clock by decade (52:40) 🌱 A closing mindset shift to stop feeling behind and trust your timing ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: This episode explores themes around feeling behind in life, the psychology of the social clock, and the pressure of following a traditional life timeline. It dives into comparison culture, what it means to feel off track in life, and how to embrace a late bloomer mindset while rethinking life milestones. The conversation touches on overcoming societal expectations, understanding that you’re not actually behind in life, and building confidence in your own timeline. Listeners will hear insights on navigating a nonlinear life path, managing life progress anxiety, redefining success, learning how to stop comparing yourself, and finding empowerment through personal growth after 40.

Today is a first for the Found at 40 podcast: it’s just Chrissi for a solo mini episode But not to worry, next week we’ll be back to normally scheduled programming with guests! This week I’m sharing what’s been on my mind lately—the funny little midlife moments, the honest reflections, and the deeper themes I’m seeing emerge from the first stretch of this podcast. I talk about what listeners are telling me they want more of, a perspective shift I can’t stop thinking about, and a look back at where I was in 2016 compared to now. If you’re in a season of reassessing, feeling “in between,” or quietly craving more clarity and belonging, you’ll feel seen here. (0:00) 💔 The lingering question of adulthood: “Why can’t I find my people?” and why it hits differently in midlife (0:45) 🎙️ Why this is a solo mini episode and what’s been surfacing for me behind the scenes (1:30) 🪞 A midlife mirror moment: “Is this just my face now?” and the humor + honesty of noticing change (2:30) 🔋 The reality of doing this work solo and what sustainability actually looks like right now (3:20) 📈 What’s surprised me most from listeners so far and the themes people are craving (4:10) 🧩 Friendship, inclusion, and belonging — and why midlife changes how these experiences land (6:45) ⚡ A perspective shift I can’t stop thinking about: why forced inclusion doesn’t create real belonging (10:00) 🎭 The importance of messy, human stories — the ones that make us laugh because they’re true (12:30) 📸 Looking back at 2016 vs now: what that season taught me, what’s changed, and what no longer fits (18:00) 🤍 Closing reflections on midlife as a reassessment — not a crisis — and letting this season unfold without rushing clarity Here is the link to the Dear Nina episode I mentioned: Listen more here ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: midlife transition, midlife reassessment, women over 40, identity shifts in midlife, feeling in between seasons, belonging vs inclusion, loneliness in midlife, adult friendship changes, personal growth after 40, midlife reflection, life reassessment, motherhood and identity, navigating change in midlife, emotional shifts after 40, finding clarity in midlife

Midlife marriage isn’t broken—it’s being asked to evolve. In this honest, funny, and deeply relatable conversation, Chrissi and her guest Heather Adams talk about what happens when long-term love collides with kids, aging parents, health scares, and the quiet realization that marriage can’t run on autopilot anymore. They explore why the middle years can actually become the richest season of a relationship, and how intentional habits, better communication, and shared vision can transform even the busiest, messiest stage of life. If you’re navigating marriage in your 40s or 50s and craving deeper connection, this episode will leave you feeling hopeful, seen, and inspired. (0:00) 💬 Why midlife marriage feels different—and why that shift can be a gift, not a problem (4:00) 🏖️ A chance meeting, a big move, and the unexpected beginnings of a long-term love story (8:00) 🧠 The unspoken stories couples carry—and how assumptions quietly create distance (11:00) ❤️ Why emotional and physical intimacy can actually get better with time (14:00) 🔄 What it means to grow into yourself—and how that changes your marriage (16:00) 🫀 A health crisis that redefined priorities, presence, and partnership (19:00) 📅 The weekly ritual that protects connection when life is full and chaotic (23:00) 🏡 Why so many couples drift into roommate mode after kids—and how to avoid it (27:00) 🌅 Turning the empty-nest transition into an opportunity instead of a crisis (31:00) 🎯 Dreaming about the next 20 years and creating a shared vision for your marriage (35:00) 🤝 How surrounding yourself with strong marriages shapes your own relationship (41:00) 🧓 Navigating aging parents, caregiving, and the emotional weight of midlife together (45:00) 🫶 Brené Brown’s powerful reminder about unequal seasons and why marriage is never 50/50 (48:00) 📺 What This Is Us teaches about supporting your partner instead of trying to fix them (51:00) 🗣️ The four simple questions that help couples stay connected and avoid resentment (55:00) 🌿 Breaking old family patterns and choosing a healthier, more intentional future together (57:00) ✨ Why long-term love isn’t about perfection—but about grace, effort, and choosing each other ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 Keywords: midlife marriage, long-term marriage advice, marriage after kids, reconnecting with your spouse, how to strengthen your marriage, marriage in your 40s and 50s, emotional intimacy in marriage, staying connected in a busy life, intentional marriage, communication in long-term relationships, marriage during midlife transitions, how to avoid growing apart, rebuilding connection with your partner, balancing family and marriage, thriving in midlife relationships

Have you ever looked at your life and thought, I did everything I was supposed to do… so why doesn’t this feel better? In this episode, I’m joined by writer and cultural voice Amil Niazi for a candid, relatable conversation about her new memoir “Life Beyond Ambition” (out January 6!) and dive into not just ambition, but burnout and the moment you realize that chasing “success” doesn’t always deliver the fulfillment it promised. We dig into what happens when the timelines, expectations, and definitions of achievement we grew up with start to crack — and how freeing it can be when they do. ✨ (0:00) — Why feeling “behind in life” is so common (and so rarely talked about) 📖 (4:30) — A look at Amil’s early life and how ambition became a survival strategy 🏃‍♀️ (8:30) — Hustle culture, scrappy early jobs, and saying yes to everything just to get ahead 🧠 (13:00) — The myth of meritocracy and why “working harder” doesn’t level the playing field ⏳ (17:00) — The millennial career crisis and realizing the playbook we were sold no longer works 🔥 (21:30) — Burnout, box-checking, and why success doesn’t feel the way we expected it to 🧩 (25:30) — Letting go of exceptionalism and questioning why “average” feels like a failure 👩‍👧 (29:30) — Motherhood, ambition, and the impossible standard of doing everything perfectly 🌍 (33:30) — Pandemic life, shrinking worlds, and the unexpected freedom of “only enough” 💭 (36:30) — Redefining ambition, identity, and self-worth beyond productivity 🛋️ (38:30) — What rest really looks like in midlife (and why modeling it matters) 🌱 (41:00) — Life after ambition: choosing contentment, presence, and a different definition of success ___________________________ 🪩 Find Amil on Instagram at @amilniazi and order your own copy of Life After Ambition here 🥽 Dive into the Millennial Career Crisis discussion on Instagram: @janelabrahami ✨ Hit follow, send this episode to your group chat, and leave a glowing review 📱 Check out @foundat40podcast on Instagram for extras, outtakes, and mild oversharing 🎙️ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Foundat40 _____________________ keywords: midlife reinvention, millennial burnout, life after ambition, redefining success, hustle culture recovery, burnout and motherhood, working mom identity, letting go of exceptionalism, the millennial career crisis, ambition vs fulfillment, productivity and self-worth, midlife identity shift, redefining ambition in midlife, choosing “good enough,” contentment over achievement