Midlife can feel confusing, even when life looks good from the outside. Careers change, relationships shift, and the way we see ourselves starts to evolve, leaving many people feeling stuck in between what was and what’s next.
In this episode, Kari Cardinale, Chief Content Officer and partner at Modern Elder Academy, explains why these moments aren’t breakdowns but transitions, and why learning to navigate them is an essential life skill. Through her work on Transitional Intelligence, Kari shares what’s really happening during midlife change and how to move through it with greater clarity and confidence.
You’ll learn:
• Why most midlife “crises” are actually misunderstood transitions
• The three stages of change: endings, the messy middle, and new beginnings
• Why the messy middle feels so hard — and why it matters
• How rituals, community, and small “glimmers” guide what comes next
If you’re feeling stuck or sensing a shift in your life, this episode will help you understand where you are and how to move forward.
👉 Navigating Transitions online course from Modern Elder Academy offers a supportive, step-by-step way to work through change with clarity and confidence, starting March 2: https://www.meawisdom.com/navigating-transitions-online/
Timestamps:
01:20 What is transitional intelligence
03:58 The three stages of transition
06:02 Voluntary and involuntary change
08:02 Why transitions take longer than we expect
11:50 The role of ritual in midlife
15:54 The messy middle and uncertainty
17:53 Glimmers and new beginnings
21:44 Growth mindset in midlife
24:28 Kari’s personal transition story
28:37 The birth of Modern Elder Academy
31:36 Love and relationships in midlife
34:48 What truly gets better with age
37:23 Building community and belonging
42:31 Wisdom bumper sticker
Learn more about MEA at https://www.meawisdom.com/
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